Calder Freeway federal funding calls falling on deaf ears

A Calder Freeway action group and two regional councillors fear their calls for federal political parties to fund an overpass on the Calder Freeway are falling on deaf ears.

The Calder Highway Improvement Committee has long campaigned for an overpass where Calder Park Drive meets the freeway.

The committee’s deputy chairman and Macedon Ranges Shire councillor Russell Mowat said federal governments needed to make the overpass a top priority.

“This section of the Calder Freeway needs urgent funding for an overpass to address congestion during peak period – in particular those vehicles that sit on the Calder Freeway shoulder when turning left into Calder Park Drive,” he said.

Buloke Shire councillor David Pollard echoed the calls.

“From 1987 to 2015, there were 24 casualty crashes at the Calder Park Drive intersection, including one fatal and nine serious-injury crashes,” he said.

VicRoads metro north-west regional director Vince Punaro said an overpass was dependent on federal funding. “We do see that [overpass] as a priority.”

Asked if Labor had plans to fund an overpass, a spokesman for opposition infrastructure and transport shadow minister Anthony Albanese said: “No, not at this stage, but we’ll let you know if anything changes.”