TRAFFIC flow on the West Gate Freeway is being tackled through a $25million technology upgrade.
The federal and state governments are each providing $12.5million for the upgrade between the Western Ring Road and Williamstown Road.
Improvements include new variable speed limit signs and signalling at entry ramps, closed-circuit TV cameras and improved communications and central control systems.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese joined state Roads Minister Terry Mulder in Yarraville on Friday to detail the works.
Mr Albanese said the freeway would become safer and less congested for the 160,000 trips each day, giving motorists more time with their families.
“We know traffic congestion is a real issue here in Melbourne, as it is in other capital cities.
“What this project will do is ease traffic congestion and make the freeway safer.”
Mr Mulder said the project deals with the five-kilometre “choke point” between Williamstown Road and the Ring Road.
“When we switched on this technology on the M1 we had a reduction in travel times of around 30percent in the peak and a reduction in serious accidents of around 40percent,” he said.
“The full integration of these systems will make travel along two of Victoria’s busiest freeways safer and more free-flowing.”
Infrastructure Australia found the benefit of the upgrade was 14 times greater than the cost.
The upgrade works will begin next year and finish in 2014.
