Victoria road programme
The road programme is expected to boost the economy and create many jobs. Credit: Ryan McGuire.

The Government of Victoria in Australia has announced plans to streamline a A$2.2bn ($1.5bn) road construction programme.

This will be part of the largest suburban road upgrade programme in the history of Victoria and is expected to boost the economy and create many jobs.

The government is set to support the Suburban Roads Upgrade, which is expected to play an important role in helping the economy.

It will adopt an ‘innovative procurement approach’ that will provide more opportunities to local construction companies to win contracts.

The government carried out a consultation process with smaller construction companies to recognise methods to aid their participation in the Big Build programme.

This approach is based on the Level Crossing Removal Project, which is a partnership model that will benefit local communities and offer security to the construction sector.

As part of the approach, the government will award 12 important projects in North and South East of Melbourne, which are worth A$2.2bn, to pre-qualified companies.

In addition, it will terminate the tender process for the Northern and South Eastern Public-Private Partnership packages of road upgrades.

Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said: “We’ve been able to deliver our Level Crossing removals at a record pace by working collaboratively with the construction industry. We’ll now do the same for this massive package of road upgrades across Victoria.”

“Our construction industry will be a vital part of our economic recovery. This approach will give local construction companies the best chance to secure work and get shovels in the ground sooner.

“While we get on with some of our biggest road and rail projects Victoria has ever seen, these projects will improve the journeys of thousands of motorists every day.”

Last month, the Government of Victoria announced the installation of a new black ice detection and warning system to keep drivers safe during winter road conditions.