Western Freeway (Victoria)
Western Freeway Victoria | |
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General information | |
Type | Freeway |
Length | 156 km (97 mi) |
Route number(s) |
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Former route number |
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Major junctions | |
West end | |
for full list see exits and Intersections. | |
East end | |
Location(s) | |
Major suburbs / towns | Trawalla, Ballarat, Ballan, Bacchus Marsh, Melton, Rockbank |
Highway system | |
Highways in Australia National Highway • Freeways in Australia Highways in Victoria |
The Western Freeway is a 156 kilometre Australian freeway linking the state capital of Victoria (Melbourne) to the major regional city of Ballarat and on to Beaufort. Signed as M8, it used to branch off from the Western Highway (having come originally beyond the Victorian/South Australian border outside Adelaide) just outside Beaufort, and now ends officially to Melbourne's freeway network via the Western Ring Road, in the middle western suburbs of Melbourne. Both the freeway and Western Highway beyond Ballarat are part of the National Highway network for the Melbourne-Adelaide route.
Plans are underway for the freeway to be extended west to Ararat, and eventually, to Stawell.
The Western Freeway subsumes and bypasses most sections of the older Western Highway. Former bypassed sections of the Western Highway are generally designated sequentially from C801 to C805, or Metropolitan Route 8 (within suburban Melbourne).
The Melbourne section of the Western Highway is shown in the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan as part of the F12 Freeway corridor.
From 2013, the National Highway numbers will be replaced (over time) with a standard alphanumeric state route number.
Timeline of duplication
- 1964/65 - Ballarat East. 2.4 miles of duplicate carriageway completed east of Ballarat. No exact date given.[1]
- 1966/67 - Deer Park to Rockbank. 7.12 miles of dual carriageways completed during financial year 1966/67.[2]
- 1966/67 - Dual carriageways from Djerriwarrh Creek to Coimadai Creek completed during financial year 1966/67.[2]
- 1966/67 - Dual carriageways 1.83 miles east of Pykes Creek Reservoir completed during financial year 1966/67.[2]
- 1967/68 - Rockbank to Melton East. Construction completed of over 3 miles of dual carriageways during financial year 1967/68.[3]
- 1969 - Pykes Creek Reservoir. The ‘Western By-pass Road’ is completed, running four miles east and west of Pykes Creek Reservoir.[4]
- 1972 - Bacchus Marsh bypass. 5.88 miles opened 30 June 1972, by the Hon. Sir Henry Bolte, GCMG, MP, at a cost of A$4.3m.[5]
- 1972 - Gordon section. 5.74 miles opened 5 May 1972, by the Board’s Chairman, Mr R E V Donaldson, at a cost of A$2.2m.[5]
- 1973 - Pentland Hills to Myrniong section. One mile completed from Korkuperrimul Creek to the Lion Park interchange, early 1973.[6]
- 1974 - Pentland Hills section. 4.8 km ‘west of Bacchus Marsh’ opened 1974.[7]
- 1975 - Myrniong bypass opened 3 October 1975, by the Minister for Transport, the Hon E R Meagher, CBE, ED, at a cost of A$3.28m. The 5.9 km bypass of Myrniong completed ‘80km of dual carriageways between Melbourne and Ballarat’.[8]
- 1978 - Ballan bypass. 8.4 km opened 15 June 1978, by the Hon J A Rafferty, Minister for Transport, at a cost of A$9.8m.[9]
- 1983 – Wallace and Bungaree bypass opened 9 March 1983, by the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. John Cain MP. The 11.9 km bypass cost A$23.6m.[10]
- 1987 – Melton bypass. The ‘freeway work’ was opened to traffic on 7 July 1987, with the remainder of works expected to be completed by April 1988. The 8.8 km bypass cost A$44.2m.[11][12]
- 1993 - Ballarat bypass. The first stage, a single carriageway section from Woodmans Hill to the Midland Highway, is opened in December 1993, at a cost of A$62m.[13]
- 1994 - Ballarat bypass. The second stage of the initial 26 km single carriageway by-pass is opened to traffic in December 1994.[14]
- 1995 - Ballarat bypass. Second carriageway opened to traffic between Woodmans Hill and Gillies Street in December 1995, at a cost of A$25m.[15]
- 1998 - Ballarat bypass. The final section opened in February 1998, The final stage featured the duplication of the original single carriageway bypass from Gillies Street to the Sunraysia Highway.[16]
- 2001 - The new elevated Hopkins Road Interchange was opened to traffic on 12 July 2001, at a cost of $13.1 million. [17] Before the construction of the new interchange, the intersection of Hopkins Road (Melton-Werribee Road) with the Western Freeway at Rockbank was improved using Black Spot Program funds in 1989 and 1991, but a long term solution to the congestion and crashes at this location was the construction of an elevated interchange.[18]
- 2009 – Deer Park bypass opened to traffic on 5 April 2009, at a cost of A$331m, jointly funded by the state and federal governments. In conjunction with these works, the new Leakes Road interchange at Rockbank was opened in August 2008.[19]
- 2011 – Anthony’s Cutting realignment. A new 5 km realignment constructed to the south of the previous section of highway, bypassing the steep grades and tight curves of the old alignment. The A$200m project was ‘mostly’ open to traffic in June 2011.[20]
- 2013 - Ballarat to Burrumbeet. 8 km duplication opened to traffic 31 January 2013.[21]
- 2015 - Burrumbeet to Beaufort opened to traffic on 18 February 2015 adding a further 26 km of freeway standard dual carriageway to the existing freeway. This includes a bypass of Trawalla.
Deer Park Bypass
The Deer Park Bypass opened on 5 April 2009 in the western suburbs of Melbourne. The freeway links the Western Freeway at Ravenhall, and the Western Ring Road in Derrimut. This 9.3 kilometre freeway was estimated to cost A$333 million which also includes a grade separated interchange or a "full diamond" at Leakes Road in Rockbank.
History
The purpose of the freeway bypass is to move traffic off Ballarat Road, which leads to the Western Ring Road. Due to the strong population growth of about 8.7 per cent and subdivision in Deer Park and Sunshine, the surrounding suburbs and the seven traffic signals between the Western Ring Road and the start of the Western Freeway, substantial long and very frustrating delays were created for the 70,000 vehicles per day with 10 per cent of this consisting of heavy vehicles.
The bypass had been proposed since the completion of the Western Ring Road, the project stalled due to funding quarrels between the Federal and State Governments. In 2004, the Federal government announced that the Deer Park Bypass would be built as part of a $1.4 billion project "package grant" to Victoria (Australia). It was anticipated that more than 15 min of travel time would be saved when travelling through Deer Park, via Ballarat Road.
Construction started on the Deer Park bypass in August 2006, work being carried out as a joint venture by Leighton Contractors and VicRoads, in construction with two contracts. The first stage opened in December 2007.[22]
Opening brought forward
It was announced on 4 March 2009 that the Deer Park Bypass would open in early April 2009, with the new freeway link on track to open more than eight months ahead of schedule.
On that day, Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas and Federal Member for Gorton Brendan O'Connor MP inspected works from the new bridge over the Ring Road at Sunshine West and Tim Pallas announced that the $331 million Deer Park Bypass would open to the public on Sunday 5 April 2009.[23]
Anthony's Cutting Realignment
The section of road through Anthony's Cutting between Bacchus Marsh and Melton was one of the most dangerous sections of the route, and was not of modern freeway standard. The steep hills and tight curves along the 5 kilometre long stretch of road resulted in 21 serious crashes in the five years to 2010.[24] More than 29,000 vehicles, including more than 4000 freight vehicles, travel the highway section daily.[25] The new route opened to traffic on 27 June 2011, nine months ahead of schedule.[26]
The project included:[27]
- Extension of Woolpack Road north from Bacchus Marsh Road to a new interchange on the Western Freeway, including a bridge over the Lerderderg River.
- An overpass carrying Bulmans Road over the existing Western Freeway.
- An overpass taking Hopetoun Park Road across the new freeway, with Melbourne-bound on and off ramps.
- Freeway bridges spanning Djerriwarrh Creek, and Cowans Road / Pyrites Creek.
The original project scope included a diamond interchange at Bulmans Road that has not been built, while the ramps at Hopetoun Park Road were not included but was later added.[28] The extension of Woolpack Road has been delayed due to controversy over need to clear trees in the heritage listed Avenue of Honour at Bacchus Marsh.[29]
Realignment of the road through this section had been proposed far back as 2001, when a group of 10 local councils said the realignment could cost just $65 million to build.[30] By 2006 the cost was estimated to be $85 million, with federal Roads Minister Jim Lloyd stating that the project would receive serious consideration for funding in the 2009 AusLink document, subject to support from the State Government.[31] Construction commenced in February 2010, funded by $160 million from the Australian Government and $40 million from the Victorian Government.[32]
Future upgrades
There are still several at-grade intersections on the "freeway", particularly in the areas near Rockbank and at Woodmans Hill just to the east of Ballarat.
- Proposed upgrade and safety improvements Rockbank to Melton, to be funded by Auslink 2 (2009–2014).
- Proposed extension west from the current freeway terminus in the Melbourne side of Beaufort west through to Ararat and eventually to Stawell, also part of Auslink 2. Part of the Beaufort to Ararat section is currently (as at March 2015) under construction.
Towns
Towns along the way include:
Exits and Intersections
Western Freeway | |||
Westbound exits / intersections | Distance to Adelaide (km) |
Distance to Melbourne (km) |
Eastbound exits / intersections |
End Western Freeway continues as Western Highway to Horsham and Adelaide |
586 | 143 | Start Western Freeway from Western Highway |
Avoca, Mildura Sunraysia Highway |
600 | 129 | Avoca, Mildura Sunraysia Highway |
Ballarat, Maryborough Ballarat-Maryborough Road |
602 | 127 | Maryborough, Ballarat Ballarat-Maryborough Road |
Wendouree, Clunes Gillies Street |
604 | 125 | no exit |
Geelong, Bendigo Midland Highway |
606 | 123 | Bendigo, Geelong Midland Highway |
Brown Hill, Daylesford Ballarat-Daylesford Road |
612 | 117 | Daylesford, Brown Hill Ballarat-Daylesford Road |
Ballarat Victoria Street (Old Western Highway) |
614 | 115 | no exit |
Clarks Road | 615 | 114 | no intersection |
Brewery Tap Road | 617 | 112 | Brewery Tap Road |
Mount Edgerton Old Melbourne Road |
Mount Edgerton Old Melbourne Road | ||
Greene Road | 618 | 111 | no intersection |
no intersection | 619 | 110 | Richards Road |
Forbes Road / Black Swamp Road | 621 | 108 | Black Swamp Road / Forbes Road |
Wallace, Creswick Bungaree-Wallace Road Springbark Ormond Road |
632 | 97 | Springbark Ormond Road Wallace, Creswick Bungaree-Wallace Road |
Gordon Brougham Street / Abbington Park Road |
637 | 92 | Gordon Brougham Street / Abbington Park Road |
Ballan, Daylesford Ballan-Daylesford Road |
647 | 82 | Daylesford, Ballan Ballan-Daylesford Road |
BP SERVICE CENTRE | 650 | 79 | BP SERVICE CENTRE |
Ballan Old Melbourne Road |
652 | 77 | Ballan Old Melbourne Road |
Kyneton Greendale-Myrniong Road |
658 | 71 | Kyneton Greendale-Myrniong Road |
Pentland Hills Pentland Hills Road |
664 | 65 | Pentland Hills Pentland Hills Road |
Pentland Hills Mortons Road / Pentland Hills Road |
667 | 62 | no exit |
no exit | 669 | 60 | Bacchus Marsh Bacchus Marsh Road |
Geelong, Gisborne Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Road |
671 | 58 | Gisborne, Geelong Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Road |
Bacchus Marsh Bacchus Marsh Road |
676 | 53 | Bacchus Marsh Bacchus Marsh Road |
Hopetoun Park Road | 678 | 51 | no exit |
Exford, Melton Coburns Road |
684 | 45 | Melton, Exford Coburns Road |
Ferris Road Melton, Gisborne Melton Highway |
687 | 42 | Taylors Lakes, Melton South Melton Highway Ferris Road |
Mount Cottrell, To Beattys Road Mount Cottrell Road |
689 | 40 | To Beattys Road, Mount Cottrell Mount Cottrell Road |
Paynes Road | 691 | 38 | Paynes Road |
Rockbank, Plumpton Leakes Road |
693 | 36 | Plumpton, Rockbank Leakes Road |
Troups Road North | 696 | 33 | Troups Road North |
Werribee, Diggers Rest Hopkins Road |
698 | 31 | Diggers Rest, Werribee Hopkins Road |
7 ELEVEN SERVICE CENTRE | |||
no exit | 701 | 28 | Deer Park, Sunshine Ballarat Road |
Caroline Springs Christies Road |
702 | 27 | no exit |
Tarneit, Burnside Robinsons Road |
708 | 21 | Burnside, Tarneit Robinsons Road |
710 | 19 | Greensborough, Seymour, Sydney Western Ring Road | |
Laverton, Ardeer Fitzgerald Road |
711 | 18 | End Western Freeway continues as Western Ring Road to Melbourne and Geelong |
Start Western Freeway continues from Western Ring Road |
References
- ↑ Country Roads Board Victoria. Fifty-Second Annual Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1965, Melbourne, Victoria: Government Printer, 1965. p. 16
- 1 2 3 Country Roads Board Victoria. Fifty-Fourth Annual Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1967, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1968. p. 35
- ↑ Country Roads Board Victoria. Fifth Annual Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1968, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1969. p. 35
- ↑ Country Roads Board Victoria. Fifty-Sixth Annual Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1969, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1970. p. 6
- 1 2 Country Roads Board Victoria. Fifty-Ninth Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1972, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1972. p. 7
- ↑ Country Roads Board Victoria. Sixtieth Annual Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1973, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1973. p. 5
- ↑ Country Roads Board Victoria. Sixty-First Annual Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1974, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1974. p. 4
- ↑ Country Roads Board Victoria. Sixty-Third Annual Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1976, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1976
- ↑ Country Roads Board Victoria. Sixty-Fifth Annual Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1978, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1978. p. 9
- ↑ Country Roads Board Victoria. Activity Report 1982/83, Kew, Victoria: Country Roads Board Victoria, 1983. p. 8
- ↑ Road Construction Authority Victoria. Annual Report 1986-87, Kew, Victoria: Road Construction Authority, Victoria, 1987. p. 64
- ↑ Road Construction Authority Victoria. Annual Report 1987-88
- ↑ VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report 1993-94, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1994, p. 17
- ↑ VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report 1994-95, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1995, p. 10
- ↑ VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report 1995-56, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1996, p. 15
- ↑ VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report 1997-98, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1998, p. 32
- ↑ Vic Roads 2001
- ↑ BUDGET 2001-2002 Media Release. John Anderson, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Transport and Regional Services. FEDERAL ROADS BUDGET FOR VICTORIA JUMPS 77 PER CENT, 2001 Budget 8 22 May 2001
- ↑ VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report 2008-09, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 2009, p. 42
- ↑ VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report 2010-11, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 2011, p. 10
- ↑ VicRoads. Annual Report 2012-13, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 2013, p. 20
- ↑ First milestone reached on the Deer Park Bypass
- ↑ Media Release - Deer Park ByPass to open in early April 2009
- ↑ "$200 Million Anthony's Cutting Project Underway". Media release issued by the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister; Tim Pallas, Victorian Roads Minister; and Catherine King, Member for Ballarat. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ↑ "Anthony's Cutting to open early". The Courier. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ↑ "Anthony's Cutting realignment open to traffic". Melton Leader. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ↑ "Project Overview". Western Highway Realignment Project. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ↑ "Angry Hopetoun Park residents petition MP". Melton Leader. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ↑ Carolyn Webb (13 August 2010). "Heritage listing puts project on hold". The Age. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ↑ MARIZA FIAMENGO (31 October 2001). "Campaign unveiled for safe highway". The Courier. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ↑ "Positive response to highway upgrade plan". The Courier. 31 Jul 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ↑ "Western Highway - Realignment of Anthonys Cutting between Melton and Bacchus Marsh". nationbuildingprogram.gov.au. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
See also
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