Overview
- Premier Ben Carroll announced the $550 million state commitment on Sunday to upgrade the Western Freeway between Melton and Caroline Springs as part of Labor’s pre‑election platform.
- The proposal would add about 30 kilometres of lanes, deliver up to four lanes each way in sections, and standardise the speed limit to 100 km/h through the upgraded corridor.
- Planned interchange works include upgrades to Ferris Road, Leakes Road and Hopkins Road plus a new half interchange at Mount Cottrell Road to give local traffic direct freeway access.
- The state pledge supplements an earlier Commonwealth contribution of about $1 billion and follows recent federal releases that were conditional on state planning work.
- Melton’s rapid population growth and council calls for new stations and road upgrades drive the case for the project, but detailed design, approvals and construction timetables remain to be finalised.