The state and federal governments have been accused of jeopardising safety and risking more congestion on the Western Ring Road by diverting $500 million in funding to the East-West Link.
Opposition roads spokesman Luke Donnellan said the money would have been used to fund vital upgrades to the Western Ring Road.
“The Abbott and Napthine governments have essentially stolen $500 million from the Western Ring Road upgrades to pump up their dud east-west tunnel, which still has no business case and won’t reduce congestion for thousands of motorists across Melbourne’s west for more than a decade,” he said.
Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins said the western suburbs needed the Western Ring Road to continue to be upgraded.
“The road is one of Melbourne’s most important transport links, and ripping away funding from the project will mean more congestion and less safety in years to come,” Ms Hutchins said.
According to Labor, the $500 million was originally intended as part of a $2.25 billion project that would have provided extra lanes and improved signage and signals along the Western Ring Road.
More than 130,000 vehicles use the busiest section of the road – between the Tullamarine Freeway and Pascoe Vale Road – every day.
In April, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced he would contribute $1.5 billion to fund the western section of the East West Link, meaning stages one and two of construction would take place almost simultaneously.
Star Weekly contacted the state government for comment, but it did not respond before deadline.
