Next Stage Of Western Highway Duplication To Begin
13 February 2018
Victorian Government:
A joint venture between
CPB Contractors
and
Seymour Whyte Constructions has secured the contract to build a
12.5-kilometre duplication of the
Western Highway between
Buangor and
Ararat.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Barnaby Joyce said the
works were part of the
Australian Government’s investment of almost $500
million in duplicating the Western Highway between
Ballarat and Stawell,
improving driver safety and supporting local industries.
“In partnership with the Victorian Government, the overarching project
will see $659.7 million invested in building a dual-lane highway between
Melbourne and
Adelaide. The improved
highway will make travel safer for
all drivers, and make the trip more efficient for heavy freight
vehicles,” Mr Joyce said.
Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said the
contract announcement was another sign of progress on the project and an
important step in building safer roads throughout the state.
“There were 91 crashes between Ballarat and Stawell in the five-year
period to June 2017, including eight fatalities and 51 serious injuries
– tragic figures that we are determined to reduce through our investment
in improvements like these,” Mr Donnellan said.
Federal Member for Wannon Dan Tehan said construction was expected to
start in March and take around two years to complete.
“This is a fantastic milestone for the project which has already seen 55
kilometres of the highway duplicated west of Ballarat,” Mr Tehan said.
Victorian Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said the project
would create a safer and more efficient four-lane divided route.
“Construction will include a new bridge over the railway line, two new
bridges over the Hopkins River, additional turning lanes and an
interchange with entry and exit ramps at Hillside Road,” Ms Pulford
said.
Some pre-construction work, including fence construction, will be
completed over the next few weeks. The Australian Government has
committed $499.3 million and the Victorian Government $160.3 million to
the overall Western Highway duplication between Ballarat and Stawell.
--ENDS--
Source: Victorian Government - www.premier.vic.gov.au
Contact: N/A
External Links: N/A
Recent news by: Victorian Government