With the 2019 Budget complete, the government has announced they’ll be allocating a record $100 billion to infrastructure projects across the country.

Major projects underway include the highly talked about Melbourne Airport Railway Link, which has received an allocation of $5 billion. $2.75 million has been assigned to key transport links in Melbourne, the North-East Link has received $1.75 billion in funding and the Monash Freeway and M80 Ring Road receiving $500 million each.

There has also been talk of an inland railway connecting Melbourne to Brisbane which has received a funding total of $9.3 billion.

The key Victorian infrastructure announcements from the 2019 Budget include suburban road upgrades, an urban congestion fund, roads of strategic importance, and railway improvements/construction with the Melbourne to Geelong railway link being the most prolific.

Melbourne to Geelong railway link:

The major project that has come out of the Budget for Victoria is the Melbourne to Geelong railway link.

The Morrison Government announced they will spend $2 billion on a new fast rail between Melbourne and Geelong. The train is expected to reach speeds of up to 160km/h and cut travel time by up to 32 minutes for commuters.

There will also be $700 million allocated to the second and third stages of the South Geelong and Waurn Ponds railway upgrade.

Suburban road upgrades and construction:

With our suburbs rapidly growing and the city of Melbourne continuing to expand, the government has taken note allocating funds to upgrade roads.

$1.1 billion for suburban road upgrades on southeastern and northern roads.

$110 million on the Wellington road duplication.

$208 million on the Goulburn Valley Highway’s Shepparton bypass (stage 1).

$360 million on completing the Ararat to Stawell section of the Western Highway.

$300 million to continue to improve the Princess Highway.

$300 million to improve the sealing of roads in the Dandenong Ranges and surrounds.

$162 million allocated to the Victorian Congestion package, which will include $70 million on Racecourse road in Flemington, and $50 million on Napoleon road in Ferntree Gully.

Urban Congestion Fund:

The government has put a high emphasis on improving congestion around Melbourne and will allocate:

$50 million to the Hume Freeway.

$50 million to the Calder Freeway.

$30 million to Ballarto Road, Skye.

$2.5 million to the Plymouth road improvements.

$17.8 million to the Princess Highway intersection upgrades (Pakenham to Beaconsfield).

$13 million to McGregor Road, Pakenham.

$10 million to Fitzsimons Lane/Main Road corridor, Eltham.

$70 million to the Thompson Road extension.

$20 million to Maroondah Highway, Coldstream.

The government has announced they will pour $68 million into commuter carparks throughout Melbourne.

Roads of strategic importance:

$4.5 billion will be sent to improving roads across the country to help connect regional businesses to both local and international markets and improve the connection to regional communities.

The improvements and allocations to roads/highways in Victoria include:

$20 million – Echuca to Robinvale.

$10 million – Ballarat to Ouyen.

$160 million – Toowoomba to Seymour.

$80 million – Southwest Victoria.

$60 million – Stawell to South Australian border.

$60 million – Melbourne to Mildura.

$60 million – Swan Hill bridge.

Photo: Airport freeway, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 Feb. 2009 by Phillip Capper found here and used under a Creative Commons Attribution. The image has not been modified.