Labor tips $1.1 billion into pothole-ridden freeway

The freeway through Melbourne’s outer urban mortgage belt was a key priority for Labor, according to King, in an election at which Victoria has taken on newfound significance with about half a dozen seats in play.

“We’re investing in the transport projects that matter most to Victorians, delivering a rail link to Melbourne Airport, fixing our regional and suburban roads, and strengthening our busiest freeways,” she said, noting Labor’s total investment in the freeway corridor had grown to $2.1 billion.

Rae has campaigned for Western Freeway upgrades since he lobbied for funding in 2022 and said outer suburban infrastructure was about much more than convenience.

Frequent accidents and poor road quality meant speed limits were often variable and travel times to the CBD often blew out by hours, fuelling frustration among residents of Melton and Bacchus Marsh.

“People are spending four or five hours a day stuck in traffic,” Rae said. “This is about people in our community being able to keep their job by getting to work on time. It’s about getting home to pick your kids up from childcare or school.”

“Sitting in your car stressing every day because you can’t meet your family responsibilities is destroying people’s mental health. This upgrade will mean people in our community won’t have to choose between keeping their jobs, and looking after their families.”

The number of vehicles travelling on the section of the freeway getting an upgrade is predicted to grow from 86,000 to nearly 115,000 each day by 2031. The funding was accounted for in December’s mid-year budget and is planned to be spent on new lanes, upgrades at Ferris Road and Mt Cottrell interchanges, and a new interchange at Bulams Road.

Premier Jacinta Allan has been feuding with the federal government over infrastructure priorities. The Victorian government is not jointly funding Thursday’s announcement but will likely pour state money into freeway upgrades before the 2026 Victorian election.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie said Labor had ignored the west until now, citing the February 8 Werribee state byelection, when the Allan government almost lost the seat after a 16.5 percentage point primary vote drop.

“Labor has sat on this project for years, but they have just realised western Melbourne matters.”

After many years as a Labor stronghold, Melbourne’s suburbs are now key battlefields as Liberals look to take back the mortgage belt and the Greens eye off the inner-northern seat of Wills.

Federal Labor’s vote is holding up in West Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, and in Queensland the Coalition holds nearly all the seats it can realistically win.

Dutton’s strategists are confident of winning Aston, Chisholm, Goldstein and McEwen, currently held by Labor and teal independents. If Dutton has a strong campaign, his advisers are hopeful of tight contests in Dunkley, Kooyong, Bruce, Hawke and Holt, which could take Dutton closer to the 20 or so seats he needs for an upset election victory.

In a sign of Labor’s worry in the state, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus’ seat of Isaacs has been classed as a target seat even though it is held by 7 per cent and is not seen as winnable by the Coalition.