By Jessica Micallef
There are growing calls to upgrade the “congested” Calder Freeway.
In February 2019, two months before the federal election, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced $50 million toward building additional lanes on the Calder Freeway to help ease traffic between Gap Road, Sunbury and the M80 Ring Road.
More than two years on, the freeway is untouched.
McEwen MP Rob Mitchell said the election promise must be honoured.
“It’s now been more than two years since Scott Morrison announced $50 million for extra lanes on the Calder Freeway to ease traffic,” he said.
“But as we can all see, nothing has been delivered.
“Populations along this corridor are growing rapidly and we really need this improvement to ensure that people spend less time sitting in their cars and more time with their families.”
Mr Mitchell said he had received a number of community concerns from residents in Bendigo, Gisborne and Sunbury about the Calder Freeway.
“I am constantly asked when work will start to deliver the extra lanes so that people can spend less time stuck in traffic, not to mention the enormous frustration and dangers negotiating the increasingly clogged freeway.
“When I was heading down there on the freeway, the traffic build-up heading out to Sunbury was chock-a-block and it wasn’t even 3pm.”
At a Brimbank council meeting last week, councillors agreed to write to state members requesting the state government match the $50 million commitment to upgrade the freeway and fund the construction of a full diamond interchange at the Calder Freeway and Calder Park Drive, including grade separation of the Sunbury train line at Calder Park Drive and the duplication of Calder Park Drive between the freeway and Melton Highway.
Brimbank council will also write to Hume, Macedon Ranges and Melton council mayors seeking support on the project.
Calder Action Group president Russell Mowatt said they needed both governments to come on board.
He said growth areas such as Sunbury, the Macedon Ranges, Hillside, Fraser Rise and Diggers Rest meant upgrades were needed more than ever.
“Council getting on board is an excellent outcome,” he said.
“The community is working together, but we want the responsible people who fund this, to work together with us.”
