More lanes and better connections coming to the Western Freeway
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Overview
We’re upgrading the Western Freeway between Melton and Caroline Springs to improve safety, freeway access and road capacity to help accommodate growing demand.
The Western Freeway is a critical road link and every single day approximately 86,000 vehicles travel the stretch between Melton and Caroline Springs, with this figure expected to rise to approximately 142,000 by 2031.
The upgrade will deliver:
- 3 lanes in each direction on the freeway between Ferris Road and Hopkins Road
- 4 lanes in each direction on the freeway between Hopkins Road and Ballarat Road
- a consistent 100km/h speed limit between Ferris Road and Ballarat Road
- a new half interchange at Mount Cottrell Road, providing an overpass across the Western Freeway with a Ballarat-bound exit ramp and a citybound entry ramp
- an upgraded Ferris Road interchange, including a new bridge over the freeway to increase capacity to 2 lanes in each direction, and new traffic lights at the northern intersection of the interchange
- an upgraded Leakes Road interchange, including a new bridge over the freeway to increase capacity to 3 lanes in each direction, with traffic lights on the northern and southern sides of the interchange
- an upgraded Hopkins Road interchange, including an additional lane across the bridge to Neale Road, improved citybound connections and new traffic lights on the northern side of the interchange.
Ahead of this work, temporary traffic lights will be installed at Leakes Road Interchange. The traffic lights are expected to be operational by early 2027.
Planning and development
Planning work completed to date includes preliminary traffic modelling, community engagement, initial land and soil investigations, initial environmental investigations and economic assessments. This has helped us to understand the local area, possible environmental and social impacts and evaluate different options.
Planning for the Western Freeway Upgrade has considered residential estate developments currently in planning or construction in the local area. This helped us understand the projected growth of the area and the demand this will place on the freeway.
A program business case was completed in December 2024 to inform government decision-making. This provided a high-level assessment of the upgrade, recommended a long-term approach for upgrading the freeway, and outlined how the upgrade could be delivered in stages.
Next steps
The project is in pre-construction. Key activities underway include:
- refining the project design and construction approach
- site investigations to further assess ground conditions
- detailed flood modelling to understand how the design impacts may affect existing water flows
- environmental investigations to further understand local flora and fauna
- preparing a Cultural Heritage Management Plan
- progressing work to secure planning and environmental approvals.
Once we have progressed pre-construction activities, the project will enter the procurement phase to appoint a construction partner to deliver the upgrades.
Construction timelines will be confirmed once pre-construction has further progressed.
Artist's impressions
Community feedback
From 11 November to 10 December 2023, we asked for feedback from the community via Engage Victoria to help inform our planning for the upgrade.
Your feedback provided local insights that has helped us to understand community views on safety, traffic flow and what we should consider in our planning.
Feedback highlighted strong support for additional road lanes, upgrades to some existing interchanges, suggested locations for several new interchanges and to provide better active transport connections to make it easier and safer to walk and cycle in the area.
99% of respondents are supportive of a potential upgrade to the Western Freeway between Melton and Caroline Springs.
For further information on what you’ve said view the Community Consultation Summary Report (PDF, 1.0 MB).