The state government has submitted a long-awaited business case to build an interchange connecting O’Herns Road and the Hume Freeway.
The Andrews Government has already committed $40.7 million to the $81 million project and Whittlesea council $12.5 million.
Representatives from the council travelled to Canberra last year to lobby Federal ministers to commit the remaining funds needed for the project, which is projected to relieve traffic congestion at the Hume Freeway and Cooper Street interchange and provide director access to 45,000 residents currently living in Epping North.
Roads minister Luke Donnellan said the project would ease congestion and reduce travel times.
“With the submission of the business case, the only thing now stopping this project from going ahead is a lack of commitment from Malcolm Turnbull.”
The federal government has repeatedly said it would not consider funding the project until a detailed business case had been submitted.
The project would also include building new lanes along the Hume Freeway between O’Herns Road and Cooper Street and new traffic lights to replace the roundabout at the intersection of O’Herns Road, Findon Street, High Street and Epping Road.
Whittlesea mayor Stevan Kozmevski welcomed Mr Donnellan’s announcement on Thursday.
He said once built, the interchange would “put an end to the daily rat running and gridlock we see along High Street and Miller Street.
“The population of Epping North is expected to double over the next 15 years and more than 60,000 residents will move to Wollert and Donnybrook placing further demand on roads that already can’t cope.
“I know this is a project of high interest to the federal government and have every confidence they will provide their share of the funding because the evidence is compelling that this project is desperately needed.”
