VIC Ison Road Rail Overpass project secures $114m funding commitment

A joint investment of $114 million has been announced by the Australian and Victorian Governments to deliver the Ison Road Rail Overpass that will provide improved access to the Princess Freeway for residents in the booming Wyndham West and Werribee regions. 

More than $10 million has already been invested to get early works going on the new overpass that will extend south towards Browns Road and then connect with a section of Ison Road, which is going to be constructed by Wyndham City Council. 

“The Albanese Government is delivering on its election commitment, the new four-lane overpass will extend over the Melbourne-Geelong railway line towards to the Princes Freeway. 

“This will provide residents better access to surrounding areas, reduce traffic congestion in central Werribee and improve journey reliability,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said. 

Artist impression (source: Engage Victoria)

Extensive planning works as well as community consultation on the proposed design and planning pathway for the project have been completed. This stage of the project has attracted over 4,000 participants. 

Once open to traffic, the Ison Road Rail Overpass will be able to accommodate about 29,000 vehicles a day by 2036. 

“The Wyndham West region is one of the highest areas of urban growth in Victoria, so we are committed to ensuring people can get where they need to go safely and more easily. 

“We have listened to the local community and we are investing in infrastructure that provides an important link to the Princes Freeway for residents to commute into the city of Melbourne or to travel to Geelong,” VIC Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said. 

Artist impression (source: Engage Victoria)

Early planning is also being carried out by Major Road Projects Victoria for potential improvements to the Werribee Main Road and Princes Freeway Interchange in Werribee – this will include traffic modelling, planning studies, and environmental and historic heritage investigations. 

The early planning will consider future upgrades to the interchange, including on and off-ramps to the Princes Freeway, and active transport and cycling facilities. 

Major construction on the Ison Road Rail Overpass is anticipated to commence in 2023. 

“Investment in safer, more reliable roads in an area of such significant growth will provide long-term benefits to locals. 

“Wyndham is rapidly growing, so we are getting on with building the Ison Road bridge to make it easier for our local residents to go between home, work and school. 

“It will provide an easy alternative for motorists to get to the Princes Freeway and make the centre of Werribee a safer and less congested shopping and business district,” Federal Member for Lalor Joanne Ryan said. 

This significant road project will: 

• Provide a vital link to the developing residential areas of Wyndham West to the Princes Freeway to Melbourne and Geelong 
• Provide Wyndham West residents access to surrounding areas and broader transport networks 
• Support urban growth and housing developments in this high-growth area 
• Reduce traffic in central Werribee, thereby reducing congestion and improving journey reliability to Princes Freeway and the Werribee Town Centre 
• Improve amenity and safety of local streets and Werribee Town Centre 

“The Ison Road overpass and connection to the Princes Freeway will be another welcome road upgrade in Melbourne’s west. 

“Our Werribee and Wyndham community is continuing to grow, with a population forecast to reach more than 520,000 people by 2041, so we are investing in transport infrastructure that will improve travel now and into the future,” VIC Treasurer and State Member for Werribee Tim Pallas said. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Engage Victoria; Victoria’s Big Build – Major Road Projects Victoria (1, 2); Roads & Infrastructure Australia