Media Release: FIRST LANES OPEN TO HELP FREE THE TULLA-CALDER TANGLE

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER

DATE: Sunday, October 8, 2006

FIRST LANES OPEN TO HELP FREE THE TULLA-CALDER TANGLE

Premier Steve Bracks and Transport Minister Peter Batchelor were on site today at the $150 million Tullamarine-Calder Interchange to inspect the newly opened traffic lanes that will begin to untangle the Tulla-Calder.

Mr Bracks said he was pleased to see the first stage of this project being completed, which will provide a substantial improvement to travelling conditions through the area.

“With the new roadway open, commuters can now start to reap the benefits of this project which is now half complete and ahead of schedule,” he said.

The $150 million project will:
· Eliminate a major blackspot where 150 casualty accidents have been recorded over a five year period;
· Ease congestion at the number 3 Redspot (2004) identified by the RACV;
· Eliminate dangerous weaving from Bulla Road traffic entering and exiting the freeways;
· Remove the notorious merge/diverge at the Tullamarine and Calder Freeway junction;
· Deliver more reliable travel times for people travelling to/from Melbourne Airport; and
· Will include new and improved noise protection to reduce freeway noise at neighbouring residential areas in Essendon North and Airport West.

Mr Bracks said in the early hours of Saturday morning, inbound Tullamarine Freeway traffic was switched onto the new roadway built on land formerly occupied by Essendon Airport.

“Because most of the work has been taking place off-road there has been minimal inconvenience to motorists,” Mr Bracks said.

“Now that these lanes have been opened, we can start work to improve the existing road without causing traffic chaos.”

Transport Minister Peter Batchelor said that with Tullamarine Freeway traffic running on the new bridge, major works were continuing over the weekend to cut through the old roadway and connect the new inbound Calder Freeway lanes in time for Monday morning peak traffic.

“Calder Freeway motorists heading city bound through the merge on Monday morning will no longer need to weave across two lanes of traffic to take the Bulla Road exit,” Mr Batchelor said.

Mr Batchelor reminded motorists that over the weekend, some traffic restrictions would be in place to complete the Calder connection.

“Drivers travelling inbound on the Calder Freeway and wanting to exit at Bulla Road will need to detour via the Ring Road to the Tullamarine Freeway or via other signed diversion routes,” he said.

With this major first stage nearing completion, works will continue in coming months to reconstruct the existing outbound lanes and ramps. Drivers need to ensure they observe the lowered speed limit which remains in place through work zones.

Mr Bracks welcomed the good progress being made on this project and praised the efforts of the Tulla-Calder Alliance team which includes staff from VicRoads, Baulderstone Hornibrook and Parsons Brinckerhoff.

“This is the first time a major road infrastructure project in Victoria has been delivered by an alliance partnership,” Mr Bracks said.

“As you can see, the benefits of the alliance model speak for themselves – the project is running ahead of schedule and within budget.

“The project is also the first where CityLink concession fees have been reinvested directly back into Melbourne’s road network for the benefit of all road users.”

The project is due to be completed in mid 2007.