$70m Epping Rd duplication to get the green light
ROAD relief for northern suburbs motorists is one step closer with the much-needed duplication of Epping Rd — described as ‘an old country road having to cope with busy urban traffic’ — set to get the green light.
A $70 million dream solution to ease the pain of northern suburbs motorists is almost a reality with the duplication of Epping Rd set to go ahead.
Whittlesea Council is already moving to ensure land is available for the duplication after councillors approved the rezoning of 150 Epping Rd at a recent council meeting.
A VicRoads submission did not object to the rezoning of the site but “understands [the rezoning] will facilitate the process to set aside land for the eventual duplication of Epping Rd”.
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Roads Minister Luke Donnellan would not say when or if the duplication would take place.
In the meantime, Mayor Kris Pavlidis said the council was campaigning for State and Federal Government funding of $70 million to duplicate the road.
The funding would also include installing traffic lights at the intersection of O’Herns Rd and Findon Rd.
“Many of our residents face long and frustrating commutes impacting wellbeing and taking away precious time to spend with family,” Cr Pavlidis said.
Emma Gallagher, spokeswoman for state opposition Roads Minister David Hodgett, did not indicate whether they would fund the duplication but did admit there are “congestion issues throughout Melbourne’s outer north”.
“We’ll obviously take a close look at these sorts of projects as we continue to develop our policies in the lead up to the election,” Ms Gallagher said.
Aurora Community Association spokesman Tony Francis welcomed the news, but said Epping Rd “should have been duplicated years ago”.
“It’s basically an old country road having to cope with busy urban traffic,” he said.
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