By Matthew Sims
Melbourne’s west’s roads has become a key battleground in the final month leading up to the state election, with the Coalition pledging $146 million towards duplicating part of Point Cook Road and the Labor Government committing $79 million towards upgrades to the Point Cook Road and Central Avenue intersection and widening of Central Avenue.
Labor candidate for Point Cook Mat Hilakari announced the $79 million investment on Tuesday, October 25, which would replace the current configuration with traffic lights to ease congestion and improve the safety of drivers, with the project expected to be completed in 2025.
“We’re delivering a safer, better road for people in Point Cook, Altona Meadows and Seabrook with our promise to upgrade Point Cook Road,” he said.
The $79 million commitment would also allow for the widening of Central Avenue from Point Cook Road to Skehan Boulevard from two to four lanes.
Hobsons Bay mayor Peter Hemphill said the upgrade to the intersection would be welcome as the intersection was a “hotspot” for traffic congestion and safety concerns.
“People in Point Cook and Altona Meadows rely on cars to get them to and from work and this is one of the few freeway access points for both suburbs,” he said.
However, the Liberal-National Coalition pledged $146 million towards duplicating Point Cook Road between Central Avenue and Sneydes Road as part of a $1.5 billion investment plan across the west announced on Saturday, October 29.
Liberal candidate for Point Cook Angela Newhouse said she has battled up and down Point Cook Road for four and a half years.
“More than 3.39 kilometres of Point Cook Road will be duplicated from Sneydes Road to Central Avenue where we will have traffic lights instead of a roundabout,” she said.
“The nightmare and gridlock for 24,000 commuters will end under a Matthew Guy Government.”
Liberal Party leader Matthew Guy said the Coalition had real solutions to deliver in the west.
“The time for Melbourne’s west is now,” Mr Guy said.
