‘Missing link’ road construction starts in Epping, but it’s not being built by the government

A ‘missing link’ road project intended to bust traffic congestion and commute times in Epping to Melbourne’s north gets started today. And it won’t be the government spearheading the project.

A traffic busting ‘missing link’ road project will begin construction in Epping today. Picture: Josie Hayden

A missing link road connection Melbourne’s north has waited three years for will commence construction today.

The 1km long Edgards Rd extension to be built by private developer MAB Corporation will connect Coopers Rd and O’Herns Rd in Epping, helping to spread traffic and slash commute times.

Joining a wider upgrade to the precinct that will also see O’Herns Rd duplicated to the Hume Highway, the Edgars Rd extension has been described as a “missing link” by local authorities and industry.

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“It has been a missing link for quite some time,” said Whittlesea mayor Lawrie Cox.

Edgars Rd, Epping, is being extended by MAB Corporation — the developer behind the Alliance Business Park.

Extending the road would help reduce the strain on side streets currently being used as “major thoroughfares”, as well as taking some of the pressure off Miller St and Epping Rd, he added.

“I think there will be a significant amount of traffic removed,” Cr Cox said.

“Cooper St at the moment is overloaded by people trying to get to Miller St.

“And it will provide better commute times for the residents of the Aurora estate.”

MAB Corporation commercial and industrial general manager Mike Martin said they would begin the extension today and planned to complete the road by August 2020.

“The community is pretty keen to see it done,” Mr Martin said.

“It has been in planning for almost three years.”

Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny said the road would pave the way for improved wellbeing for locals.

“The delivery of this much-needed infrastructure will reduce travel times and enable better public transport with the benefits to be realised across the entire corridor,” Ms Halfpenny said.

The Alliance Business Park will also bring about 1600 jobs to the region.

The intersection connecting it to O’Herns Rd will be completed by state authorities as part of the wider upgrade to O’Herns Rd.

The current dead end at Edgars Rd was built by an earlier developer but never completed, with MAB Corporation spending the past two years working to make it happen after buying the land it will run through to form part of their Alliance Business Park industrial estate.

In addition to the road extension the 97ha, $165 million development will create about 1600 ongoing jobs in the food industry, manufacturing, transport and logistics.

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It has attracted significant sales to date, with the 2000sq m lots available at present selling for around $500 a square metre — or about the $1 million mark.