A map of the proposed Western Distributor.
PREMIER Daniel Andrews has thanked Prime Minister Tony Abbott for “being more interested in outcomes than playing politics” following his offer to help out financially on other state road projects.
A $5.5 billion road and tunnel that would provide an alternative to the West Gate Bridge could get federal funding if the project’s business case stacks up.
“He’s (Mr Abbott) confirmed that he wants to work with us to do something meaningful for motorists on the M1, motorists on the West Gate, getting trucks off the road in the inner west and of course building a direct link into the port,” Mr Andrews said.
Mr Andrews said the project would help people in the southeast, west, and regional areas, and that Transurban had briefed Infrastructure Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Warren Truss.
When asked whether there could one day be a need to extend the proposed new link to the east of Melbourne, Mr Andrews said that wasn’t being considered.
“Not under this government, there won’t,” he said.
He said the government had done no study on the impact of the western distributor on traffic flows to the east, however.
Tony Abbott suggested the State Government might need to chip in some cash for the project.
Mr Abbott said he was astounded Mr Andrews had thrown away up to $1 billion by dumping the East West Link, but he was open to helping pay for other projects that were of national significance and would reduce congestion.
The Andrews Government recently dumped a contract for the eastern section of an East West Link toll road, saying the project didn’t stack up.
About $640 million was wasted, and about $350 million spent on property acquired by the government, on the project that would have connected CityLink to the Eastern Freeway.
Mr Abbott earlier told 3AW that Mr Andrews should put a formal proposal to his government about a potential Western Distributor so that it could be assessed.
“We are certainly prepared to support it, if it stacks up,” he said.
The Western Distributor is a proposed tunnel and elevated motorway from the West Gate Freeway to CityLink, with a connection to the Port of Melbourne.
It would be paid for by a mix of tolling revenue and taxpayer money.
The PM suggested the Andrews Government would need to chip in some money for the project.
“They can hardly expect the Commonwealth to do this on its own,” he said.
“But we’re certainly prepared to support that project if it stacks up and we are prepared to support major infrastructure projects in Victoria. We really are.
“The tragedy for Victoria is that the only one that was shovel-ready is East West Link and East West Link was cancelled by this government.”
At the moment, Mr Andrews is hoping the Federal Government and private tolling revenue from
the road, which will connect the M80 to CityLink with an exit to the Port of Melbourne, will pay for its construction.
It is understood that Infrastructure Australia has received a briefing about the proposal, and was impressed by the plan in principle.
A business case from toll road operator Transurban, who has proposed the project as a way to ease congestion on the West Gate Bridge, shows a cost benefit ratio of $1.60 for every $1 spent.
Independent experts from the State Government are now probing that assessment to ensure it was rigorous.
A spokeswoman for Premier Daniel Andrews, Lisa Tucker, said: “We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to provide Commonwealth funding for critical infrastructure in Victoria.”
Ms Tucker said the proposed road to ease congestion on the West Gate Bridge is worth federal funding.
“Transurban’s Western Distributor is an outstanding proposal that would cut travel times to and from the city, create thousands of jobs, remove trucks from suburban streets, provide a direct link to the port and a second river crossing,” she said.
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