Travel times cut by half by $1.3 billion Tullmarine Freeway widening project

MOTORISTS are getting from the city to Melbourne Airport in almost half the time — even at peak-hour, as the $1.3 billion project to widen the Tullamarine Freeway nears completion.

MOTORISTS are getting from the city to Melbourne Airport in almost half the time as the $1.3 billion project to widen the Tullamarine Freeway nears completion.

A trip from the Bolte Bridge to the airport used to take 29 minutes in the morning peak-hour rush, with the corridor used by 210,000 vehicles every day.

But new VicRoads data shows motorists are now completing the 20km trip in just 16 minutes at 8am.

RELATED NEWS:

EAST WEST LINK ‘WILL HAVE TO BE BUILT’

RAIL LINK NEEDED TO PREVENT CRIPPLING CONGESTION

WIDENING ONLY EXPECTED TO EASE CONGESTION FOR 10 YEARS

Average peak-hour speeds have soared from just 41km/h to 74km/h.

Congestion is expected to be eased even further when more lanes open by the end of the month between the airport and Melrose Drive.

The whole project will be finished by the end of August and the speed limit will then be increased from 80km/h to 100km/h in some sections of the Tullamarine Freeway.

Construction work to widen the Tullamarine Freeway. Picture: David Smith

Travel times have improved for the better. Picture: David Smith

Acting Premier James Merlino said the “huge travel time savings” meant motorists could plan their trips with greater certainty and spend more time with family and friends, as well as at work.

“People are spending less time stuck in traffic … People are travelling faster, getting where they need to go sooner and spending 13 minutes less time getting into the city from Melbourne Airport,” he said.

MORE NEWS:

GETTING BOOMERS HOME SAFELY ‘NO. 1 PRIORITY’

THE HEROIC ACT IN THE BOOMERS BASHING FALLOUT

WHY HAS TIPLE M AND AFL GONE QUIET ON HALL?

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said “smart on-road technology” — such as electronic speed signs that can be altered depending on traffic conditions — had also helped improve reliability and reduce congestion.

@tminear