Residents living in South Geelong are being connected to train services, roads and freight like never before, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Public Transport, Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll today visited the South Geelong region where a massive $330 million of investment is being delivered to improve the area's transport network - with commuters already experiencing the benefits.
It includes local and major road upgrades - such as the Barwon Heads Road Upgrade - as well as delivering more frequent and reliable train services on the Geelong Line, as part of the Geelong Line Upgrade.
As part of the Labor Government's annual road maintenance blitz - which focuses on making arterial roads in the region safer and more efficient for motorists - $2.2 million is being invested to resurface 3.8 kilometers along the Geelong Ring Road.
Resealing work on the Geelong bound lanes of the Surf Coast Highway, between Dickins Road and Mt Duneed Road has also been completed and adds to recent improvements made along the Surf Coast Highway, including the installation of flexible safety barriers and the first hybrid roundabout in 2019.
In addition on the Princes Highway, $1.4 million has delivered Side Road Activated Speeds at three high risk Mount Moriac intersections. South Valley Road in Highton was partially upgraded earlier this year, thanks to a $460,000 investment to help connect the thousands of daily drivers between Highton and Waurn Ponds.
The Labor Government has also invested in public transport links in growing Armstrong Creek with nearly 67,000 trips taken on the Route 45 bus since it was introduced in 2019, including more than 3,900 passengers in February. Seven new school bus routes were also introduced in the area last year.
The South Geelong to Waurn Ponds Duplicationwill duplicate around eight kilometres of train track and upgrade signalling between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds, enabling five trains per hour during the peaks and three per hour between the peaks for growing communities in Marshall and Waurn Ponds.
Major works to Waurn Ponds Station were completed at the end of 2021, with the new forecourt and car park open to the public. Further improvements will be delivered this year, including the new second platform, new track and an accessible pedestrian overpass.
As stated by Minister for Public Transport, Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll
"The South Geelong region is growing - that's why we've made this huge investment in improving the transport network to better connect locals and get them where they need to go."
"Whether it's vital maintenance projects on local roads or major projects like the Geelong Line Upgrade, we're connecting locals and making it easier and more accessible for them to travel."
As stated by Member for Geelong Christine Couzens
"We're connecting the South Geelong Region - and making it safer and easier for families to get to shops, work, school and services - with new technology at high-risk intersections and a big program of investments to maintain our roads."
As stated by member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman
"We're providing better connections and improving safety for the many families, business owners and essential services that travel through South Barwon - by getting on with these important projects and delivering the transport network they deserve."
