Drivers in Craigieburn are a step closer to safer, smoother and more reliable journeys, with a contract awarded to upgrade Craigieburn Road.

Fulton Hogan will build the project, in partnership with Major Road Projects Victoria, as part of the biggest suburban road upgrade program in Victoria’s history, boosting the state’s economy and creating thousands of jobs.

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the upgrade will boost capacity and cut travel times for the more than 28,000 drivers who rely on the key arterial road every day.

“Craigieburn Road is a critical link for the community in Melbourne’s north, and this upgrade will help reduce congestion and improve traffic flow for the thousands of people who travel through this area daily,” Mr Fletcher said.

Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure, the Hon Jacinta Allan MP, said the project will improve connections to Craigieburn’s growing residential and commercial precincts and public transport services.

“Melbourne’s north is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, which is why we’re investing $18 billion into the area’s road and rail networks as part of Victoria’s Big Build,” Ms Allan said.

As part of the upgrade, extra lanes will be added to Craigieburn Road in each direction for more than 5.5 kilometres between Mickleham Road and the Hume Highway.

Senator for Victoria, Senator the Hon Jane Hume, said traffic lights will replace roundabouts at Mickleham Road, Waterview Boulevard and Hardy Avenue.

“New traffic lights will be installed at Balyang Way, Dorchester Street and Cimberwood Drive, while intersections will be improved at Vantage Boulevard, Aitken Boulevard, Lygon Drive, Bridgewater Road and Hanson Road,” Senator Hume said.

“New shared cycling and pedestrian paths will be built on both sides of the road and safety barriers will be installed to improve safety.”

State Member for Yuroke, Ros Spence MP, said the new way the Craigieburn Road Upgrade is being delivered means that we will see this much-needed project move from paper to pavement sooner and easier.

“Projects like this are crucial to our economic recovery as we work with the local construction industry to create much needed local jobs and get shovels in the ground as quickly as possible,” Ms Spence said.

Main construction is expected to start in the second half of 2021 and scheduled to be completed in 2025.

The Craigieburn Road Upgrade is part of the broader Suburban Roads Upgrade – South Eastern and Northern Roads project. The project is jointly funded with the Australian Government committing $1.14 billion and the Victorian government committing $2.27 billion.