Upgrade of Melbourne's M80 Ring Road has reached a new milestone with the opening of new traffic lanes
October 2, 2012
The upgrade of Melbourne’s M80 Ring Road has reached a new milestone with the opening of one new traffic lane in each direction between Sunshine Avenue and Furlong Road in St Albans.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese says the lanes are part of the much wider upgrade which is widening key sections of the M80 to at least six lanes, with the entire project on track to be completed in mid-2014.
The M80 Upgrade project is being jointly funded by the federal ($900 million) and Victorian ($300 million) governments, with the Tilburn Road to Furlong Road section to be completed next year and the Edgars Road to Plenty Road section in 2014.
“As well as widening the road, we’re also installing the latest electronic freeway management technology to give VicRoads the tools to better manage traffic flows and ensure we get the most from the investment we’re making,” Albanese says.
Victorian Public Transport and Roads Minister Terry Mulder says the upgrade to Melbourne’s second busiest road will help support the city’s growth over the next two decades.
“Once work on the Furlong and Tilburn Roads section is completed next year there will for the first time be four lanes in both directions, and as many as five Altona bound lanes from Ballarat Road to Tilburn Road. Together, they will help to further ease localised congestion,” Mulder says.
