Rail Not Tollroads: Six-lane super road plan to ease congestion at Melbourne Airport

Source: Herald Sun

A SIX-LANE super road aimed to ease congestion at Melbourne Airport could be built as early as next year.

The $80 million extension of Airport Drive would mean travellers coming from west would have a direct link to the airport via the Western Ring Rd and no longer have to get on the Tullamarine Fwy.

It comes as controversial options such as imposing new parking and property levies have been included in a report on the viability of a rail line to Doncaster.

An economic and social impact study found the 3.7km road from Sharps Rd to Mercer Rd would reduce the length of queues on the Tullamarine Freeway by providing alternative access to the long-term carpark, taxi holding bay and staff carpark…

Details of the project were revealed in a preliminary draft major development plan, which was released for public consultation yesterday and must be signed off by the Federal Government.  Public comment is welcome until March 8, 2013.

Other planned projects include a $400 million Southern Precinct Project with a new domestic terminal, elevated loop road, wider roads, extra carpark and additional plane parking bays.

A report – expected to be released today – into the possibility of a train to Doncaster has canvassed several funding options.

It also said that extending the line from Doncaster to Ringwood would relieve congestion on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines by providing an alternative route to the city.

Transport expert Professor Peter Newman, from WA’s Curtin University, said in his report that a fast train link with integrated bus and tram connections was the best option for the Eastern Freeway corridor…

Cr Fristacky said Yarra opposed the planned East-West road tunnel, but wanted a Doncaster rail link that connected to a Parkville station on the proposed Metro underground rail system.

John Masanauskas, Herald Sun, 4 December 2012

 What do you think of the six-lane super road plan? Will it help to ease congestion?  Leave a comment below and/or have your say or to read more go to: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/six-lane-super-road-plan-to-ease-congestion-at-melbourne-airport/story-e6frf7kx-1226529219805

One thought on “Rail Not Tollroads: Six-lane super road plan to ease congestion at Melbourne Airport”

  1. mike says:

    Funnelling road and rail down one corridor is not sound planning, especially when there is available land to create a second acess corridor to the airport to the west by building a linking road and rail corridor to the calder freeway and rail line to link with the new VR lines into southern cross.
    Its just 5 kms from end of new runway to calder park in open land.
    Also a park and ride could be built under the hv transmission lines at calder park where parking charges could subsidise the public transport and further reduce cars into the airport precinct.
    This rail link would directly benifit the Melb growth areas of Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Werribee which are to the south and east as well as create a link to Avalon Airport.

    An international arrival platform could be built by adding platforms to western side of southern cross, giving Dockland hotels a boost. There is lenty of land to create direct acess to taxis on a realigned Wurundjeri Way.

    Mike

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