East West Tunnel

[Gointocarlton]

How does that make it a bandaid? There's not a single bit of complicated infrastructure you build once and forget. It needs investment and updating otherwise it becomes an issue.

Agree IOT. It has to be part of a master plan, its a just piece of the jig saw.

[cookie2]

Agree IOT. It has to be part of a master plan, its a just piece of the jig saw.

Effective planning is the key - we seem to be in constant reaction mode in this state, and plagued by politicised decisions

[jeza]

One of the problems with our transport infrastructure is that it's not integrated.

A rail line should have been built down the middle of the Eastern Freeway and another should have gone in on  the Tullamarine.  It's a scandal that we don't have a train servicing Melbourne Airport'

Of course, the radial nature of our rail system needs to be addressed with suburban interchanges getting people to their destinations without going through the CBD.  Getting heavy vehicles off the road wouldn't go astray but it all costs money and Aussie politicians are terrified of raising taxes, or even not reducing current taxes.

Melbourne is not the only city to suffer traffic chaos when something goes wrong.  I was heading north out of Paris a couple of years ago and there was a truck fire on the inbound lane.  The traffic was banked up for 21kms and there were hundreds of vehicles still heading towards the jam.

Funny to think there actually was an outer circle train line and a bunch of various criss-crossing links between lines. Long gone now. They had more nous in 1890.

[Gointocarlton]

Effective planning is the key - we seem to be in constant reaction mode in this state, and plagued by politicised decisions

BANG! Take it off the buffoon politicians hands and into those who would know what they are doing for the better of all Victorians.

[DJC]

Funny to think there actually was an outer circle train line and a bunch of various criss-crossing links between lines. Long gone now. They had more nous in 1890.

Some of the reserves still exist but most was sold off.  It probably needs to be a bit further out now, but I can't see it happening.

I know Perth is a much smaller city but they seem to have the right idea when it comes to major roads and public transport network.

[ElwoodBlues1]

You put a train line into Tulla airport then a lot of people will be out of work...not a good way to win voters over in the affected industries...

Train down the freeway to Doncaster...got problems there with the connection points where the preferred end of line is Doncaster Hill and not the park and ride bus terminal, there is an engineering issue with a steep tunnel that would need to be built and that is going to cost big dollars.
They were also talking about the inner connection point being Fairfield station...not ideal either.....only 2% only of car drivers would be expected to leave the car at home and jump on the train.....Donny residents like their comfy Mercs and BM's..
Total Cost was seen as a max of 5 Billion.....and they want public money as part of that cost.......good luck with that one.....

The signalling system also need s a full upgrade....thats a massive cost..

[Juddkreuzer]

You put a train line into Tulla airport then a lot of people will be out of work...not a good way to win voters over in the affected industries...

That's where it's messed up.

I live in Geelong and we've got pretty minimal traffic issues in comparison to Melbourne. The east west link is one I would have supported though.It makes sense. Rail to Tulla is another. It makes sense. I'm related to Denis Napthine and in the due course of time I shall also quiz him on the proposed Corio Bay bridge from Point Henry which would cut 20 minutes from my daily commute that he suggested whilst in opposition. It makes sense. Seriously what is the point of an Andrews government? And I have not voted Liberal in the state elections since the early days of Kennett.

[JonHenry]

Blame the Liberals entirely. Signed the East/West contract trying to play politics knowing they were going to lose the election, also knowing Labor wasn't building it. It went to the election and Labor won. How many people complaining that it's not being built voted Labor? Andrews made a promise and he kept it. Libs were only going to Toll up every other road to pay for it, meaning people like me, who wouldn't use the East/West link would have to pay a toll on another road.

Westgate Freeway can be pretty bad, so the Western Distributor suits me alot better. Personally couldn't give a toss about the East/West link.

To be perfectly honest I wouldn't use it either.
But it would have supported melbournes economy and taken a large percentage of traffic off the streets around Carlton fitzroy and collingwood, but at the end of the day, if you're not going to use it Jim, why should the state of Victoria build it?

[JonHenry]

Effective planning is the key - we seem to be in constant reaction mode in this state, and plagued by politicised decisions

That tunnel/road has been part of a master plan for decades

[blueday]

Blame the Liberals entirely. Signed the East/West contract trying to play politics knowing they were going to lose the election, also knowing Labor wasn't building it. It went to the election and Labor won. How many people complaining that it's not being built voted Labor? Andrews made a promise and he kept it. Libs were only going to Toll up every other road to pay for it, meaning people like me, who wouldn't use the East/West link would have to pay a toll on another road.

Westgate Freeway can be pretty bad, so the Western Distributor suits me alot better. Personally couldn't give a toss about the East/West link.

Andrews spent $1b of our cash after promising it would not cost anything, you alreday coughed up for a road we dont have. Did he keep that promise? Now the independent infrastructure panel has east/west as first on the list we will pay again. You tell me who played politics with our cash.