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Western Freeway (Victoria)

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See also: Western Highway, Victoria and Ballarat Road, Melbourne

Western Freeway

Victoria
General information
TypeFreeway
Length156 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
 

for full list see exits and Intersections.

East end
Location(s)
Major suburbs / townsTrawalla, Ballarat, Ballan, Bacchus Marsh, Melton, Rockbank
Highway system

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.[citation needed]

Timeline of duplication

  • 1964/65 - Ballarat East. 2.4 miles of duplicate carriageway completed east of Ballarat. No exact date given.[1]
  • 1966/67 - Deer Park to Rockbank. 7.12 miles of dual carriageways completed during financial year 1966/67.[2]
  • 1966/67 - Dual carriageways from Djerriwarrh Creek to Coimadai Creek completed during financial year 1966/67.[2]
  • 1966/67 - Dual carriageways 1.83 miles east of Pykes Creek Reservoir completed during financial year 1966/67.[2]
  • 1967/68 - Rockbank to Melton East. Construction completed of over 3 miles of dual carriageways during financial year 1967/68.[3]
  • 1969 - Pykes Creek Reservoir. The ‘Western By-pass Road’ is completed, running four miles east and west of Pykes Creek Reservoir.[4]
  • 1972 - Bacchus Marsh bypass. 5.88 miles opened 30 June 1972, by the Hon. Sir Henry Bolte, GCMG, MP, at a cost of A$4.3m.[5]
  • 1972 - Gordon section. 5.74 miles opened 5 May 1972, by the Board's chairman, Mr R E V Donaldson, at a cost of A$2.2m.[5]
  • 1973 - Pentland Hills to Myrniong section. One mile completed from Korkuperrimul Creek to the Lion Park interchange, early 1973.[6]
  • 1974 - Pentland Hills section. 4.8 km ‘west of Bacchus Marsh’ opened 1974.[7]
  • 1975 - Myrniong bypass opened 3 October 1975, by the Minister for Transport, the Hon E R Meagher, CBE, ED, at a cost of A$3.28m. The 5.9 km bypass of Myrniong completed '80 km of dual carriageways between Melbourne and Ballarat'.[8]
  • 1978 - Ballan bypass. 8.4 km opened 15 June 1978, by the Hon J A Rafferty, Minister for Transport, at a cost of A$9.8m.[9]
  • 1983 – Wallace and Bungaree bypass opened 9 March 1983, by the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. John Cain MP. The 11.9 km bypass cost A$23.6m.[10]
  • 1987 – Melton bypass. The 'freeway work' was opened to traffic on 7 July 1987, with the remainder of works expected to be completed by April 1988. The 8.8 km bypass cost A$44.2m.[11][12]
  • 1993 - Ballarat bypass. The first stage, a single carriageway section from Woodmans Hill to the Midland Highway, is opened in December 1993, at a cost of A$62m.[13]
  • 1994 - Ballarat bypass. The second stage of the initial 26 km single carriageway by-pass is opened to traffic in December 1994.[14]
  • 1995 - Ballarat bypass. Second carriageway opened to traffic between Woodmans Hill and Gillies Street in December 1995, at a cost of A$25m.[15]
  • 1998 - Ballarat bypass. The final section opened in February 1998, The final stage featured the duplication of the original single carriageway bypass from Gillies Street to the Sunraysia Highway.[16]
  • 2001 - The new elevated Hopkins Road Interchange was opened to traffic on 12 July 2001, at a cost of $13.1 million.[17] Before the construction of the new interchange, the intersection of Hopkins Road (Melton-Werribee Road) with the Western Freeway at Rockbank was improved using Black Spot Program funds in 1989 and 1991, but a long term solution to the congestion and crashes at this location was the construction of an elevated interchange.[18]
  • 2009 – Deer Park bypass opened to traffic on 5 April 2009, at a cost of A$331m, jointly funded by the state and federal governments. In conjunction with these works, the new Leakes Road interchange at Rockbank was opened in August 2008.[19]
  • 2011 – Anthony’s Cutting realignment. A new 5 km realignment constructed to the south of the previous section of highway, bypassing the steep grades and tight curves of the old alignment. The A$200m project was ‘mostly’ open to traffic in June 2011.[20]
  • 2013 - Ballarat to Burrumbeet. 8 km duplication opened to traffic 31 January 2013.[21]
  • 2015 - Burrumbeet to Beaufort opened to traffic on 18 February 2015 adding a further 26 km of freeway standard dual carriageway to the existing freeway. This includes a bypass of Trawalla.

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]

  • Extension of Woolpack Road north from Bacchus Marsh Road to a new interchange on the Western Freeway, including a bridge over the Lerderderg River.
  • An overpass carrying Bulmans Road over the existing Western Freeway.
  • An overpass taking Hopetoun Park Road across the new freeway, with Melbourne-bound on and off ramps.
  • Freeway bridges spanning Djerriwarrh Creek, and Cowans Road / Pyrites Creek.

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.

  • Proposed upgrade and safety improvements Rockbank to Melton, to be funded by Auslink 2 (2009–2014)[1].
  • Proposed extension west from the current freeway terminus in the Melbourne side of Beaufort west through to Ararat and eventually to Stawell, also part of Auslink 2. Part of the Beaufort to Ararat section is currently (as at March 2015) under construction.

Towns

Towns along the way include:

Exits and Intersections

Western Freeway
Westbound exits / intersections High Speed Intersection Distance to
Adelaide
(km) 		Distance to
Melbourne
(km) 		Eastbound exits / intersections High Speed Intersection
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 Avalon Airport 		606 123 Bendigo, Geelong
Midland Highway Avalon Airport
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 High Speed Intersection 615 114 no intersection
Brewery Tap Road High Speed Intersection 617 112 Brewery Tap Road High Speed Intersection
Mount Edgerton
Old Melbourne Road High Speed Intersection 		Mount Edgerton
Old Melbourne Road High Speed Intersection
Greene Road High Speed Intersection 618 111 no intersection
no intersection 619 110 Richards Road High Speed Intersection
Forbes Road / Black Swamp Road High Speed Intersection 621 108 Black Swamp Road / Forbes Road High Speed Intersection
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 Avalon Airport 		671 58 Gisborne, Geelong
Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Road Avalon Airport
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 Melbourne Airport 		687 42 Taylors Lakes, Melton South
Melton Highway Melbourne Airport
Ferris Road
Mount Cottrell, To Beattys Road
Mount Cottrell Road High Speed Intersection 		689 40 To Beattys Road, Mount Cottrell
Mount Cottrell Road High Speed Intersection
Paynes Road High Speed Intersection 691 38 Paynes Road High Speed Intersection
Rockbank, Plumpton
Leakes Road 		693 36 Plumpton, Rockbank
Leakes Road
Troups Road North High Speed Intersection 696 33 Troups Road North High Speed Intersection
Werribee, Diggers Rest
Hopkins Road Avalon Airport 		698 31 Diggers Rest, Werribee
Hopkins Road Avalon Airport
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 Melbourne Airport
Laverton, Ardeer
Fitzgerald Road 		711 18 End Western Freeway
continues as Western Ring Road
to Melbourne and Geelong Avalon Airport
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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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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