It’s the promise that’s got commuter’s hopes up– a $250 million upgrade to Mickleham Road, designed to smooth out Melbourne’s traffic woes.
With congestion at an all-time high and thousands of daily commuters stuck in traffic, the project promises a much-needed fix.
However, while some are celebrating the news, others remain cautiously skeptical.
With Mickleham and Craigieburn growing rapidly, local roads have been under increasing pressure.
More than 25,000 vehicles travel along Mickleham Road every day, and this upgrade will ease that strain, cutting down commute times and making the roads safer for everyone.
Hume council has been vocal in its support of the proposed upgrade, with mayor Jarrod Bell stressing its importance for the northern corridor’s growth.
“As our communities in Hume’s northern corridor continue to grow, it’s imperative that our road infrastructure grows with them. This investment means residents in Greenvale, Craigieburn, and beyond will have a faster, less congested commute, getting them home safely and giving them back that time spent on long drives,” he said.
But not everyone is convinced the upgrade will happen as promised.
Burt-kur-min ward councillor Jim Overend has been pushing for improvements to Mickleham Road for years and remains wary.
“Its a great announcement if it comes to fruition, and it’s clearly welcome news, but there’s also skepticism about whether it will actually happen. I’ve been asking this for years and working closely with Greenvale residents, and only now it’s become an election promise.”
