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The Government of Victoria (Australia), has called for Expressions of Interest for the western package of the Outer Suburban Arterial Roads (OSARs) Program with AUD$1.8 billion (US$1.37 billion) of investment.

It combines eight high-priority road upgrades with maintenance on more than 700 kilometres of road stretching from Werribee to Footscray, ensuring motorists benefit from new high quality roads while the existing network is maintained to a high standard for years to come.

The upgrades will involve a combination of duplication and widening works to western arterial roads including:

• Dunnings Road and Palmers Road, from Point Cook Road to Princes Freeway, Point Cook
• Palmers Road, from Princes Freeway to Western Freeway, Truganina
• Derrimut Road, from Sayers Road to Dohertys Road, Tarneit
• Leakes Road, from Fitzgerald Road to Derrimut Road, Truganina
• Dohertys Road, from Fitzgerald Road to Grieve Parade, Laverton North
• Dohertys Road, from Foundation Road to Palmers Road, Truganina
• Princes Freeway/Forsyth Road interchange, Hoppers Crossing
• Duncans Road interchange, Werribee/Werribee South

The package will transform the outer-western road network by boosting capacity and improving road pavement conditions with intersection upgrades, almost 30 kilometres of lane duplication, and road maintenance.

The community can provide their feedback and help shape upgrade designs, with VicRoads also set to engage local councils, planning authorities, freight operators, and bus companies for local input.

The eight high-priority road upgrades will be delivered within five years, and the maintenance and rehabilitation contract will continue for a further 20 years. The project will be delivered under the PPP model.

The deadline for interested firms to submit the EOI documents is on or before December 9, 3 PM (local time).

The Request for Proposal is expected to go out in early 2017, with construction expected to begin 2018.

Premier Daniel Andrews, said:

“This is one of the biggest ever projects to update suburban arterial roads – and it's going to create jobs, cut travel times and congestion and improve safety.” “We’re building better roads for Victorian families to get them home safer and sooner to their loved ones.”

Treasurer Tim Pallas said:

“Victoria is breaking new ground with this project, one that stacks up, and will protect our liveability by building a safer and more reliable network.”

You can have further information here.