Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney has called on the Baillieu Government in Parliament to fund the much needed upgrade of the Pioneer Road intersection at Waurn Ponds.
Prior to the November election the previous Labor Government committed $13.5 million to widen Pioneer Road to a four lane road between the Princes Highway and Meadowvale Drive to ease heavy congestion.
“At present there is a significant bottleneck due to more than 20,000 people using this road on a daily basis.
“I ask the Minister for Roads to inform me, and the people of Geelong, as to when the Baillieu Government will start this much needed upgrade and urge that it be included in the upcoming May 2011/2012 budget.
“Residents in the area and commuters who use this road have been very vocal in advocating for this road to be upgraded, which the previous Labor government committed to do in November 2010, with construction to begin in the latter half of 2011.”
“I am expecting to see this project included in the Baillieu Government’s May budget as this upgrade needs to begin this year,” Ms Tierney said.
At present, this section of road is the only entrance to the major shopping complex in Waurn Ponds and the new Leisure-link Swimming and fitness facility in Waurn Ponds.
Ms Tierney said that the people of Geelong will be looking to see the many promises Andrew Katos and the Coalition made leading into the November election funded in the short term.
“Andrew Katos and the Coalition made many promises to the people of Geelong and the people of Geelong expect these promises to be delivered.
“Pioneer Road needs to be upgraded, the Labor Party promised to commence work in the latter half of 2011, Mr Katos needs to make sure that $13.5 million is in the May budget and that the upgrade commences this year,” Ms Tierney said.