Federal budget: $104 million injected into Hume Freeway McKoy St intersection upgrade

A major freeway in Albury-Wodonga will receive a multimillion-dollar cash boost for upgrades as part of this year’s federal budget. It comes as several transport links will be built as part of a $1.1 billion plan to supercharge jobs across Victoria.

Traffic banked back at a checkpoint on the Hume Freeway. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The Hume Freeway has been earmarked as one of the state’s top transport projects.

The federal government delivered a cash boost of $104 million toward the Hume Freeway, McKoy St intersection upgrade on the state’s border of Albury-Wodonga, as part of Tuesday night’s federal budget.

Other major Victorian transport projects announced include Shepparton’s Stage 3 rail upgrade ($320 million), Warrnambool’s Stage 2 rail upgrade ($208 million), and the outer southeast’s Western Port Hwy ($27.15 million).

It also committed $84.5 million to upgrading the Frankston-Cranbourne link, with the State Government matching the contribution to get the much-awaited project underway.

A community-led recovery plan will also help support regional communities that have been affected by the pandemic.

The federal government has announced a $104 million boost to the McKoy St intersection with the Hume Freeway.

This includes an additional $1 billion for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, which will support local businesses to stimulate its economies.

This investment and the Road Safety Program will support about 10,000 jobs.

An additional $51 million to boost regional tourism has also been announced.

Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Simon Birmingham said with one in five jobs dependant on trade, the government would continue to support Australian exporters by keeping trading channels open and accessible during the pandemic,

“I will work with Home Affairs portfolio ministers and lead a new Joint Ministerial Taskforce on simplified trade … to make trading simpler and cheaper by reducing red tape, increasing the resilience of our supply chains, and supporting trade growth and expansion,” Mr Birmingham said.

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Originally published as Federal budget: $104 million injected into Hume Freeway McKoy St intersection upgrade