Bracks to fast-track Geelong bypass stage-four planning

In a fillip to the state's trucking sector, Victorian premier Steve Bracks pledged $3m over the next two years from mid July, towards planning of stage-four of the Geelong bypass.

Bracks said the bypass was recognised federally as being part of the AusLink network, that the fourth stage “should be no exception”, and that it was always intended that the project end at a set of traffic lights on the Princes Highway.

“The planning works will examine the cost and design of stage four, which could include an extension to cross the Princes Highway near Pigdons Road using an upgraded section of Anglesea Road, before sweeping west from Hams Road to rejoin the Princes Highway near Draytons Road, west of the Waurn Ponds valley,” Bracks said.

Meanwhile the Victorian Government has reacted sternly to federal roads minister Jim Lloyd's “please explain” request to transport minister Peter Batchelor over the choice of route for the Geelong Bypass.

Mr Lloyd claimed “option 1” to the east of Deakin University was unpopular.

“This route has been heavily objected to by the community and federal and state members of Parliament. Even the Victorian planning minister Rob Hulls, describes it as a `short term' solution and I believe the state government should come clean on exactly why they selected this route.”

A Victorian Government spokeswoman said it had accepted the advice of an independent panel that had recommended this option.

“The reservation for this road has been in existence for decades,” she said. “Both this reservation and the $380m project agreed by both the state and Commonwealth was always intended to finish with lights at the Princes Highway, regardless of which option was chosen.

“The Federal Government's own definition of the project on the Department of Transport and Regional Services website, has been there for some time: `23 km of four-lane bypass of freeway standard from Corio to rejoin the Princes Highway in the southwest at Waurn Ponds'”

- Lloyds List DCN

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Bracks to fast-track Geelong bypass stage-four planning

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