Halletts ramps on the way

By Kate Taylor

Work has begun on the new access ramps to and from the freeway at Bacchus Marsh.

The project has been a long time coming for locals, but construction has commenced and is set to be completed before the end of next year.

The federal government contributed $12.16 million to the project, and Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the project will support traffic growth around Bacchus Marsh and support commuters travelling between Melbourne and Ballarat.

“The project will improve the safety for people traveling between Bacchus Marsh and Darley, and a new bridge will be constructed for pedestrians and cyclists that will sit alongside the existing bridge,” Mr Chester said.

The state government contributed $3.04 million to the project, and Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said the upgrade will provide drivers using Halletts Way with another alternative to going through Bacchus Marsh to get to the freeway.

“We’re getting on with this critical project which will vastly improve traffic flow and reduce congestion, helping people spend less time stuck in traffic,” Mr Donnellan said.

The new east-facing freeway ramps will allow drivers to enter the freeway north of the Halletts Way Bridge, and exit the freeway south of the bridge.

A noise wall will be built along the edge of the southern freeway ramp and traffic lights will be installed at the intersections of the two freeway ramps and Halletts Way.