Liam McNally
Melton council wants the state government to take on the responsibility of upgrading the “critical north-south corridor” of Calder Park Drive, Westwood Drive and Palmers Road by declaring it a state arterial road.
At a council meeting on Monday, February 27, councillor Steve Abboushi moved for council to write to the Roads and Safety Minister Melissa Horne and Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch requesting “urgent and formal declaration” as a state arterial road and a commitment to “immediately upgrade the corridor as a matter of priority”.
The corridor was a part of last year’s ‘Fix Our Roads campaign’, in which council was seeking state funding for a range of road infrastructure projects, including more than$1 billion of works for the Palmers Road corridor.
The upgrade request included duplication between Western Freeway and Calder Freeway with signalised intersections, a Calder Park Drive interchange and a triplicated level crossing removal on Calder Park Drive at Sunbury line.
Melton council city futures director Sam Romaszko said the municipal road “has been identified by the Victorian government as a future arterial road”.
“Which will ultimately be managed and upgraded by the Victorian government or the Department of Transport and Planning,” she said.
Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch said the road’s future classification is still under review.
“The department of transport will look to review the Palmers Road corridor to determine whether it’s suitable to declare some sections as an arterial road,” she said.
The state government has committed to some works on the corridor, with the level crossing removal at Robinsons Road, and a level crossing on Calder Park Drive planned to be replaced with a road bridge over the rail line by 2025.
Major Road Projects Victoria has undertaken planning for potential future improvements to Calder Park Drive between Melton Highway and the Calder Freeway as well as a potential new interchange with the Calder Freeway but have not yet committed to the projects.
Roads and Safety Minister Melissa Horne said the Palmers Road Corridor is “vital to supporting the area’s ongoing growth and development”.
“We’re improving our road and transport connections in the west to make it safer and easier for locals to get to where they need to go,” she said.
