Roads Australia (RA), the national stakeholder body for roads, has welcomed the Victorian Government’s commitment to new and improved road infrastructure as part of an integrated solution to urban congestion and future growth demands across the State.
“The Plan properly recognises that roads are part of the congestion solution - not the problem,” says RA President, Ray Fisher.
“The specific road elements of this integrated strategy will, in particular, enhance the capability of Melbourne's existing road network to meet the city’s requirements into the future, and underpin and complement the rail, public transport and freight initiatives included alongside.”
Mr Fisher says the Transport Plan will also provide a boost to the construction sector.
“The construction sector has a proven record in delivering world-class transport infrastructure for Victoria - look no further than EastLink,” he says.
“It will look forward with confidence to the challenges and opportunities of helping to deliver major elements of this program.
“Whilst recognising a number of projects are reliant on Federal funding, we welcome the Government’s commitment to planning and construction timeframes that will assist the sector in marshalling the resources necessary to deliver these projects.”
Mr Fisher added that RA would like to see the east-west road tunnel proposed in the Eddington report remain on the planning horizon as part of a long-term solution to cross city congestion.
“Notwithstanding, the initiatives unveiled in this Plan will go a long way towards the creation of a sustainable urban environment for future generations,” he says.
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Monday December 8th 2008 2:05pm