Western Freeway (Victoria)

Western Freeway
Victoria
General information
Type Freeway
Length 156 km (97 mi)
Route number(s)
  • M8 (2014–present)
  • Entire route
Former
route number
  • National Route M8 (1997-2014)
  • National Route 8 (1955-1997)
  • (Burrumbeet - Deer Park)
Major junctions
West end
 
East end
Location(s)
Major suburbs / towns Trawalla, Ballarat, Ballan, Bacchus Marsh, Melton, Rockbank
Highway system
Highways in Australia
National HighwayFreeways in Australia
Highways in Victoria

The Western Freeway is a 156 kilometre Australian freeway linking the state capital of Victoria (Melbourne) to the major regional city of Ballarat and on to Beaufort. Signed as M8, it used to branch off from the Western Highway (having come originally beyond the Victorian/South Australian border outside Adelaide) just outside Beaufort, and now ends officially to Melbourne's freeway network via the Western Ring Road, in the middle western suburbs of Melbourne. Both the freeway and Western Highway beyond Ballarat are part of the National Highway network for the Melbourne-Adelaide route.

Plans are underway for the freeway to be extended west to Ararat, and eventually, to Stawell.

The Western Freeway subsumes and bypasses most sections of the older Western Highway. Former bypassed sections of the Western Highway are generally designated sequentially from C801 to C805, or Metropolitan Route 8 (within suburban Melbourne).

The Melbourne section of the Western Highway is shown in the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan as part of the F12 Freeway corridor.

From 2013, the National Highway numbers will be replaced (over time) with a standard alphanumeric state route number.

Timeline of duplication

Deer Park Bypass

Eastbound on the Deer Park Bypass approaching the Western Ring Road interchange

The Deer Park Bypass opened on 5 April 2009 in the western suburbs of Melbourne. The freeway links the Western Freeway at Ravenhall, and the Western Ring Road in Derrimut. This 9.3 kilometre freeway was estimated to cost A$333 million which also includes a grade separated interchange or a "full diamond" at Leakes Road in Rockbank.

History

The purpose of the freeway bypass is to move traffic off Ballarat Road, which leads to the Western Ring Road. Due to the strong population growth of about 8.7 per cent and subdivision in Deer Park and Sunshine, the surrounding suburbs and the seven traffic signals between the Western Ring Road and the start of the Western Freeway, substantial long and very frustrating delays were created for the 70,000 vehicles per day with 10 per cent of this consisting of heavy vehicles.

The bypass had been proposed since the completion of the Western Ring Road, the project stalled due to funding quarrels between the Federal and State Governments. In 2004, the Federal government announced that the Deer Park Bypass would be built as part of a $1.4 billion project "package grant" to Victoria. It was anticipated that more than 15 min of travel time would be saved when travelling through Deer Park, via Ballarat Road.

Construction started on the Deer Park bypass in August 2006, work being carried out as a joint venture by Leighton Contractors and VicRoads, in construction with two contracts. The first stage opened in December 2007.[22]

Opening brought forward

It was announced on 4 March 2009 that the Deer Park Bypass would open in early April 2009, with the new freeway link on track to open more than eight months ahead of schedule.

On that day, Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas and Federal Member for Gorton Brendan O'Connor MP inspected works from the new bridge over the Ring Road at Sunshine West and Tim Pallas announced that the $331 million Deer Park Bypass would open to the public on Sunday 5 April 2009.[23]

Anthony's Cutting Realignment

Alignment of the road over Djerriwarrh Creek, before the opening of the Anthony's Cutting Realignment

The section of road through Anthony's Cutting between Bacchus Marsh and Melton was one of the most dangerous sections of the route, and was not of modern freeway standard. The steep hills and tight curves along the 5 kilometre long stretch of road resulted in 21 serious crashes in the five years to 2010.[24] More than 29,000 vehicles, including more than 4000 freight vehicles, travel the highway section daily.[25] The new route opened to traffic on 27 June 2011, nine months ahead of schedule.[26]

The project included:[27]

The original project scope included a diamond interchange at Bulmans Road that has not been built, while the ramps at Hopetoun Park Road were not included but was later added.[28] The extension of Woolpack Road has been delayed due to controversy over need to clear trees in the heritage listed Avenue of Honour at Bacchus Marsh.[29]

Realignment of the road through this section had been proposed far back as 2001, when a group of 10 local councils said the realignment could cost just $65 million to build.[30] By 2006 the cost was estimated to be $85 million, with federal Roads Minister Jim Lloyd stating that the project would receive serious consideration for funding in the 2009 AusLink document, subject to support from the State Government.[31] Construction commenced in February 2010, funded by $160 million from the Australian Government and $40 million from the Victorian Government.[32]

Future upgrades

There are still several at-grade intersections on the "freeway", particularly in the areas near Rockbank and at Woodmans Hill just to the east of Ballarat.

Towns

Towns along the way include:

Exits and Intersections

Western Freeway
Westbound exits / intersections Distance to
Adelaide
(km)
Distance to
Melbourne
(km)
Eastbound exits / intersections
End Western Freeway
continues as Western Highway
to Horsham and Adelaide
586 143 Start Western Freeway
from Western Highway
Avoca, Mildura
Sunraysia Highway
600 129 Avoca, Mildura
Sunraysia Highway
Ballarat, Maryborough
Ballarat-Maryborough Road
602 127 Maryborough, Ballarat
Ballarat-Maryborough Road
Wendouree, Clunes
Gillies Street
604 125 no exit
Geelong, Bendigo
Midland Highway
606 123 Bendigo, Geelong
Midland Highway
Brown Hill, Daylesford
Ballarat-Daylesford Road
612 117 Daylesford, Brown Hill
Ballarat-Daylesford Road
Ballarat
Victoria Street
(Old Western Highway)
614 115 no exit
Clarks Road 615 114 no intersection
Brewery Tap Road 617 112 Brewery Tap Road
Mount Edgerton
Old Melbourne Road
Mount Edgerton
Old Melbourne Road
Greene Road 618 111 no intersection
no intersection 619 110 Richards Road
Forbes Road / Black Swamp Road 621 108 Black Swamp Road / Forbes Road
Wallace, Creswick
Bungaree-Wallace Road
Springbark
Ormond Road
632 97 Springbark
Ormond Road
Wallace, Creswick
Bungaree-Wallace Road
Gordon
Brougham Street / Abbington Park Road
637 92 Gordon
Brougham Street / Abbington Park Road
Ballan, Daylesford
Ballan-Daylesford Road
647 82 Daylesford, Ballan
Ballan-Daylesford Road
BP SERVICE CENTRE 650 79 BP SERVICE CENTRE
Ballan
Old Melbourne Road
652 77 Ballan
Old Melbourne Road
Kyneton
Greendale-Myrniong Road
658 71 Kyneton
Greendale-Myrniong Road
Pentland Hills
Pentland Hills Road
664 65 Pentland Hills
Pentland Hills Road
Pentland Hills
Mortons Road / Pentland Hills Road
667 62 no exit
no exit 669 60 Bacchus Marsh
Bacchus Marsh Road
Geelong, Gisborne
Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Road
671 58 Gisborne, Geelong
Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Road
Bacchus Marsh
Bacchus Marsh Road
676 53 Bacchus Marsh
Bacchus Marsh Road
Hopetoun Park Road 678 51 no exit
Exford, Melton
Coburns Road
684 45 Melton, Exford
Coburns Road
Ferris Road
Melton, Gisborne
Melton Highway
687 42 Taylors Lakes, Melton South
Melton Highway
Ferris Road
Mount Cottrell, To Beattys Road
Mount Cottrell Road
689 40 To Beattys Road, Mount Cottrell
Mount Cottrell Road
Paynes Road 691 38 Paynes Road
Rockbank, Plumpton
Leakes Road
693 36 Plumpton, Rockbank
Leakes Road
Troups Road North 696 33 Troups Road North
Werribee, Diggers Rest
Hopkins Road
698 31 Diggers Rest, Werribee
Hopkins Road
7 ELEVEN SERVICE CENTRE
no exit 701 28 Deer Park, Sunshine
Ballarat Road
Caroline Springs
Christies Road
702 27 no exit
Tarneit, Burnside
Robinsons Road
708 21 Burnside, Tarneit
Robinsons Road
710 19 Greensborough, Seymour, Sydney
Western Ring Road
Laverton, Ardeer
Fitzgerald Road
711 18 End Western Freeway
continues as Western Ring Road
to Melbourne and Geelong
Start Western Freeway
continues from Western Ring Road

References

  1. Country Roads Board Victoria. Fifty-Second Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1965, Melbourne, Victoria: Government Printer, 1965. p. 16
  2. 1 2 3 Country Roads Board Victoria. Fifty-Fourth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1967, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1968. p. 35
  3. Country Roads Board Victoria. Fifth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1968, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1969. p. 35
  4. Country Roads Board Victoria. Fifty-Sixth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1969, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1970. p. 6
  5. 1 2 Country Roads Board Victoria. Fifty-Ninth Report: for the year ended 30 June 1972, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1972. p. 7
  6. Country Roads Board Victoria. Sixtieth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1973, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1973. p. 5
  7. Country Roads Board Victoria. Sixty-First Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1974, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1974. p. 4
  8. Country Roads Board Victoria. Sixty-Third Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1976, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1976
  9. Country Roads Board Victoria. Sixty-Fifth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1978, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1978. p. 9
  10. Country Roads Board Victoria. Activity Report 1982/83, Kew, Victoria: Country Roads Board Victoria, 1983. p. 8
  11. Road Construction Authority Victoria. Annual Report 1986-87, Kew, Victoria: Road Construction Authority, Victoria, 1987. p. 64
  12. Road Construction Authority Victoria. Annual Report 1987-88
  13. VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report 1993-94, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1994, p. 17
  14. VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report 1994-95, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1995, p. 10
  15. VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report 1995-56, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1996, p. 15
  16. VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report 1997-98, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1998, p. 32
  17. Vic Roads 2001
  18. BUDGET 2001-2002 Media Release. John Anderson, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Transport and Regional Services. FEDERAL ROADS BUDGET FOR VICTORIA JUMPS 77 PER CENT, 2001 Budget 8 22 May 2001
  19. VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report 2008-09, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 2009, p. 42
  20. VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report 2010-11, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 2011, p. 10
  21. VicRoads. Annual Report 2012-13, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 2013, p. 20
  22. First milestone reached on the Deer Park Bypass
  23. Media Release - Deer Park ByPass to open in early April 2009
  24. "$200 Million Anthony's Cutting Project Underway". Media release issued by the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister; Tim Pallas, Victorian Roads Minister; and Catherine King, Member for Ballarat. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  25. "Anthony's Cutting to open early". The Courier. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  26. "Anthony's Cutting realignment open to traffic". Melton Leader. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  27. "Project Overview". Western Highway Realignment Project. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  28. "Angry Hopetoun Park residents petition MP". Melton Leader. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  29. Carolyn Webb (13 August 2010). "Heritage listing puts project on hold". The Age. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  30. MARIZA FIAMENGO (31 October 2001). "Campaign unveiled for safe highway". The Courier. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  31. "Positive response to highway upgrade plan". The Courier. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  32. "Western Highway - Realignment of Anthonys Cutting between Melton and Bacchus Marsh". nationbuildingprogram.gov.au. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.

See also

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