Route of new 100km ring road for Melbourne’s west revealed

A new road connecting the Princes Hwy to the Metropolitan Ring Rd will remove thousands of trucks and cars from overflowing freeways in Melbourne’s west.

The new road would connect the Princes Hwy to the Metropolitan Ring Rd.

A new 100km outer metropolitan ring road built in stages from the end of the decade would remove thousands of trucks and cars from overflowing freeways in Melbourne’s west and reduce traffic chaos.

The Outer Metropolitan Ring Rd, expected to cost $17-35bn over almost two decades of construction, would connect the Princes Hwy in Melbourne’s outer west to the Metropolitan Ring Rd in the city’s north.

Infrastructure Victoria boss Dr Jonathan Spear said assessments of the project show it would deliver major freight and economic benefits, while easing congestion on the Tullamarine Fwy, Calder Fwy, Princes Hwy and Western Hwy.

He said once the $18bn North East Link was open in 2029 to connect the Eastern Fwy to the Metropolitan Ring Rd in Greensborough, the outer ring road could be tackled in stages.

Dr Spear said Infrastructure Victoria had found that the project stacked up and could be combined with a rail freight link connecting interstate lines to Melbourne’s west.

“An outer metropolitan road and rail corridor supports economic development and projected population growth in Melbourne’s outer-western and northern suburbs,” he said.

The proposed route for a 100km Outer Metropolitan Ring Rd and rail corridor. Source: Infrastructure Victoria

“These areas have underdeveloped road networks compared to the city’s established areas.

“If we start detailed planning now, priority sections of the Outer Metropolitan Ring Road could be under construction by the end of this decade,” he said.

Infrastructure Victoria documents show the western section of the project would join the Princes Freeway, just west of Werribee, to south of Melbourne Airport, costing $6.9-12.7bn.

A second section worth $5.6-13.5bn would continue north to the Hume Fwy, with a spur to the airport, while the third stage would connect the Hume Fwy to the M80 Ring Road in Bundoora at a cost of $4.7-8.6bn.

The advisory body says 2000-3000 vehicles would be removed from other major corridors during morning peak times, which would be needed as population booms.

“Melbourne’s outer northern and western suburbs are expected to attract over 800,000 new residents to the area immediately surrounding the OMR alignment between 2018 and 2051,” it says.

Victorian Chamber chief executive Paul Guerra said a reassessment of the route would be needed later this decade, once a demographic shift towards regional Victoria stemming from Covid-19 could be considered.

“Where does it (the OMR) sit versus completion of fast trains, for example to Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Warrnambool, opening up the regions?” he said.
“Where is it compared to linking the Eastern freeway to the Tullamarine Fwy, the old East West Link, once the West Gate Tunnel opens?”

He also said a new model between governments and the private sector would be required to get more major projects built to cater for population growth, due to financial constraints.

Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson said the project was likely to be needed due to a doubling of freight movements expected by 2050, but that road pricing and logistics reforms would also be required to enhance benefits.

Mr Anderson said major roads on the city fringes would also attract housing sprawl, putting pressure on services.

“We need these infrastructure projects, but then can we have the hospitals and schools?” he said.

The Andrews Government did not respond to questions about the project, while opposition transport infrastructure spokesman David Southwick said that while the north and west had been snubbed by Labor, an up-to-date business case should be done to ensure the road “represents best value for taxpayer money and improves liveability and connectivity for all Victorians”.