The Liberal Party candidates for Scullin and McEwen are yet to commit to four vital road projects in Whittlesea and Hume, despite Labor vowing to fund the works if elected.
Scullin candidate Melanie Stockman and McEwen candidate Chris Jermyn have been silent about their party’s stance on funding the O’Herns Road freeway interchange, the duplications of Bridge Inn and Craigieburn roads, and traffic lights at an accident blackspot in Whittlesea. Both failed to respond to Star Weekly questions about the projects.
Labor pledged on June 17 to support all four projects if it wins the election.
Infrastructure and transport spokesman Anthony Albanese put up $67 million for the long-awaited O’Herns Road interchange with the Hume Freeway, as well as $90 million to duplicate Mernda’s Bridge Inn Road.
Whittlesea council has long lobbied for both projects, believing they will help reduce the time residents spend in traffic.
Labor has also set aside $20 million for the first stage of the duplication of Craigieburn Road, between Hanson Road and Dorchester Street.
Hume mayor Helen Patsikatheodorou labelled this project the biggest election issue in Hume, with thousands of extra vehicles using Craigieburn Road daily over the past 12 months.
McEwen MP Rob Mitchell has pledged $900,000 to install traffic lights at the intersection of Plenty and Wallan roads and Laurel and Macmeikan streets after more than 1000 residents petitioned for the intersection to be made safe. It has been the site of six casualty crashes in the past five years.
SEE: O’Herns Road snub
SEE: Calls to fix dangerous intersection
