Moving Melton

Hopkins Road is a critical north south connector for the west, providing access to employment precincts and connecting the Western Highway to the Princes Freeway. It is currently a rural-standard carriageway with unsealed shoulders, open drains and non-existent pedestrian facilities.

Congestion

Hopkins Road currently carries approximately 28,000 vehicles per day and traffic modelling commissioned by Council indicates that this will increase to over 51,000 vehicles per day by 2031.

68,000 new residents are expected to be added near Hopkins Road by 2051. Over 20,000 jobs are expected to be created at industrial zones near Hopkins Road, including the Melbourne Business Park, creating even more congestion.

Safety

In the five-year period between 2015 and 2019 (pre-COVID), there were 68 traffic accidents recorded on Hopkins Road between the Western Highway and Boundary Road Intersections, including five fatalities, 20 serious crashes and 43 people injured.

Solution

• Upgrading the Western Highway interchange with additional lanes and traffic signals

• Hopkins Road duplication between the Western Highway and Boundary Road

• Signalised intersections at Grand and Kirkpatrick Boulevards, Riding Boundary, Middle and Boundary Roads 

• Removal of the level crossing on Hopkins Road

• New pedestrian and cycling paths

* The Victorian Government has committed to removing the level crossing at Hopkins Road in a road over rail treatment by 2026.

Economic benefits

Independent analysis by Clarity Consult, based on the Melton Integrated Transport Model, found that duplication of Hopkins Road would see a Positive Cost Benefit Ratio of 2.27.

This means the total benefits of the project over 30 years outweigh the cost by 2.27 to 1.

The estimated project cost of $88 million will see total economic benefits of $219 million.

Over 30 years this figure includes:

• 74,000 hours of travel time saved

• 30% reduction or 1,800 tonnes of greenhouse gases saved

• 45% reduction or 101 less crashes over 30 years.

Analysis by Clarity Consult also found that the removal of the level crossing at Hopkins Road will see an additional economic benefit of $26 million over 30 years.

Upgrading the interchange at the Western Highway has not been modelled at this stage but would have a significant impact on traffic on Hopkins Road and deliver another large economic benefit.