Elsie Lange
The state Liberals and Nationals have pledged $231 million to build the hotly anticipated Bulla Bypass should they win the state election in November.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy made the announcement of a bypass between Bulla-Diggers Rest Road and Somerton Road on Saturday, October 29, as part of a spate of Coalition roads infrastructure promises.
“This November, Melbourne’s western suburbs have a clear choice – real solutions better local communities under the Liberals and Nationals or more of the same under Labor,” he said.
Opposition Roads spokesperson Danny O’Brien said the Coalition had a plan to invest in better roads across the state.
“This significant investment in roads across Melbourne’s west is part of our comprehensive plan to repair and build better roads across metropolitan and regional Victoria,” he said.
In a Facebook post, Sunbury Liberal candidate Simmone Cottom said she had been “fighting hard” to ensure people in the west weren’t forgotten.
In June, Star Weekly reported that Western Metropolitan MP Dr Catherine Cumming had asked the government for any updated details of funding provided to the Bulla Bypass project.
It was understood the government was investing a total of $20 million for the development of the potential future of the bypass, and to secure planning and environmental approvals.
Responding to questions from Star Weekly at the time, a government spokesperson said there was planning for the potential bypass to provide a connection between Sunbury, the northern suburbs of Melbourne and the airport.
“This development work is looking at ways to improve traffic flow and ease congestion in the northern suburbs, improve safety and improve amenity for Bulla and Sunbury residents,” a government spokesperson said.
At the time, Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) was completing investigations, which included traffic modelling, planning and environmental studies to inform the development of design options and scope and to gauge costs.
