The $2.25 billion M80 Ring Road upgrade is one step closer with the VicRoads alliance partners for the first major works between Tullamarine Freeway and Sydney Road announced today.

The Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese and Victorian Minister for Roads and Ports Tim Pallas announced that Thiess, PB and Hyder would join VicRoads on the Tulla-Sydney Alliance.

Mr Albanese said works would begin early next year to widen the Ring Road, with extra lanes, interchange improvements and the installation of new freeway management systems.

"The M80 Upgrade will provide significant benefits by improving safety and reliability, easing congestion and decreasing travel times, especially during peak periods," Mr Albanese said.

"The freeway now carries up to 142,000 vehicles per day, including more than 20,000 trucks, so these much-anticipated improvements will address both safety concerns and the road congestion now experienced in peak times, as well as improving road freight efficiency.

"Confirmation of VicRoads alliance partners is great news for the project and means that work can commence on the ground in early 2010."

Mr Pallas said that all the companies involved in the Tulla-Sydney Alliance have extensive experience in the delivery of major transport infrastructure projects.

"The Rudd Labor Government and the Brumby Labor Government are taking action to improve Victoria's roads, investing in important projects to reduce congestion and create jobs - the whole M80 Ring Road upgrade to secure about 6500 jobs during construction," Mr Pallas said.

"These planned works together with other road and public transport projects foreshadowed in the $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan will support our economic growth, create jobs and cater for our anticipated population increase for years to come."

Works to begin early next year include:

• Construction of additional lanes to provide at least three lanes in both directions between the Tullamarine Freeway and Sydney Road;


• Extra lanes between some exit and entry ramps to assist traffic flow and improve safety when merging;


• Installation of a freeway management system to actively manage traffic flow and help to ease congestion, and


• Improvements to the layout of some interchanges and freeway ramps.

"In addition to the Alliance works between Tullamarine Freeway and Sydney Road the M80 upgrade includes future works to provide extra lanes and enhanced traffic management systems for the full 38 kilometre Ring Road route," Mr Pallas said.

Other improvements as part of the upgrade that are underway or due to commence include:

• Construction of an extra lane Altona-bound between the Deer Park Bypass and Boundary Road;


• Widening Tilburn Road and Steele Creek bridges;


• Enhancing and extending the Ring Road's electronic freeway management systems and ramp metering on the Deer Park Bypass; and


• Road surface improvements.

The M80 Ring Road upgrade is jointly funded by the Rudd Labor Government and the Brumby Labor Government.