“The state government’s announcement of $50 million for narrow roads upgrades and maintenance in Victoria’s south west is a welcome move, and helps build the momentum of investment in transportation infrastructure,” Master Builders Association of Victoria CEO Radley de Silva said.

“As the population of Victoria grows larger and more rapidly, significant investment in infrastructure projects like roads and highways is crucial for Victoria if it is to remain a great place to live, invest and do business,” he said.

“The shovel-readiness of these particular works, scheduled to begin this year, is critical to meeting the increased demands placed on our road networks, not just by the sheer numbers of people travelling within it, but by the increase of heavy vehicle traffic that supports the economy of Victoria,” Mr de Silva said.

“A big door opened to infrastructure investment as a result of the Port of Melbourne’s long-term lease, and Victoria has a duty to its residents and businesses to step into a vigorous phase of engineering construction that builds the foundation for our state’s future,” he said.