Time to fix jam – again

Andrew Mathieson
Research forecasting traffic to almost double between Geelong and Melbourne in the next 20 years has prompted Victoria’s peak motorists’ body to call for more lanes on the Princes Freeway.
RACV public policy general manager Brian Negus said another upgrade of the freeway from Geelong to Werribee was the best way to avoid increasing traffic snarls between the cities.
He wanted the stretch to have as many lanes as the freeway between Werribee and Melbourne.
“The road will need to be widened to at least eight lanes – that can be achieved,” he said.
Federal Government this week released research forecasting traffic on the freeway would rise from an existing 63,152 vehicles a day to more than 118,000 by 2030.
The national research of main regional road links to capital cities ranked the freeway near the top for forecast traffic increases, with most other highways and freeways set for an average increase of about 50 per cent.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese released the research, saying he wanted to “encourage more people out of their cars and get more freight onto trains”.
Mr Negus welcomed the Government’s budget commitment of a “significant” increase in roads funding but said it should take priority over a $3.2 billion package for railways.
The Geelong region launched a Fix the Jam campaign during the 1990s to expand the freeway amid increasing traffic congestion. Federal Government eventually matched the state’s funding commitment to increase the freeway from four lanes to six with years of roadworks.
Mr Negus also called on State Government to fast-track its proposed outer transport corridor from the Hume Highway at Craigieburn to south of Werribee.