Brimbank council is still waiting on the state government to review the “critical north-south corridor” of Calder Park Drive, Westwood Drive and Palmers Road so it can be declared a state arterial road.
According to mayor Ranka Rasic, council has been advocating for Calder Park Drive and Robinsons Road to be formally declared state government managed arterial roads for the past decade.
The state government said the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) would look to review the Palmers Road corridor to determine whether it’s suitable to declare some sections as an arterial road.
A year later, the review has not begun, and when asked by Star Weekly, the DTP indicated it was still planned but did not specify when it would begin.
A section of the south of the Western Freeway is already a state-owned road, and the government has committed to delivering road widening and intersection upgrades over an 8 km section there, along with the the removal of the Robinsons Road and Calder Park Drive level crossings.
The state government will also consider duplication north of the Western Freeway and construction of the Calder Park Drive freeway interchange in the future.
Brimbank council mayor Ranka Rasic said council wants an upgraded road network to improve liveability, productivity and safety for residents.
“As recently as January 2024, Council requested a road status update from the Department of Transport and Planning regarding this classification and will continue to advocate for this change,” she said.
“The state government acknowledged that Calder Park Drive, Westwood Drive, Palmers Road, as well as Robinsons Road and Taylors Road, should be future arterial roads in 2001.
“Given the high cost required to implement the road improvements, and the regional significance of these roads, it is council’s position that the state government should fund these improvements.”
