The drive to Melbourne Airport along the Tullamarine Freeway and CityLink is set to be reduced by up to 16 minutes once an $850 million upgrade and expansion of the road is completed.
Transurban will upgrade CityLink between the West Gate Freeway and Melrose Drive on the Tullamarine Freeway to boost the road’s capacity by 30 per cent.
The two-year project will begin next year, with a freeze on car toll increases to offset the impact of construction.
The project will be funded by extending the CityLink Concession for an extra year.
The project will add extra lanes in both direction between the Bolte Bridge and Tullamarine freeway, north of English Street. There will also be extra lanes on the Bolte Bridge.
Premier Denis Napthine made the announcement on Monday morning in Pascoe Vale South, saying the project was being delivered as an unsolicited proposal.
“Road congestion costs Victoria, in terms of lost time and productivity, and this project will cut travel times by up to 16 minutes per trip during peak periods between Melbourne Airport and the West Gate Freeway,’’ Dr Napthine said.
The government says disruption during construction will be minimised with the majority of work planned to place outside peak periods.
