The O’Herns Road interchange will finally be built, with the federal government announcing it has included the long-awaited project in a $3 billion infrastructure package for Victoria.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the spending blitz on Tuesday morning, saying the money would provide critical funding for more than 40 key road and rail projects across the state.
The federal government will contribute $1.5 billion to the projects, with the state government providing the other $1.5 billion.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester said the O’Herns Road interchange would be among the projects to receive funding, but he did not say how much money the federal government would provide.
Whittlesea council has long lobbied for the interchange, which is expected to relieve congestion at the Hume Freeway’s Cooper Street interchange and provide 45,000 residents in Epping North with direct access to the freeway.
“Following our commitment to invest in an urban congestion package, the O’Herns Road interchange has been included,” Mr Chester said.
The state government has already committed $40.7 million to the interchange.
The project includes on/off ramps at the Hume Freeway at O’Herns Road in Epping North, duplication of 1.4 kilometres of O’Herns Road east of the interchange, extra lanes of the Hume Freeway between O’Herns Road and Cooper Street, and traffic lights to replace the roundabout at High Street, O’Herns, Findon and Epping roads.
More to come.
