Abbott pledges freeway link

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott promised to fund the East West road link during a visit to the Bruce electorate last week – a project that would give Greater Dandenong a boost.
He made the pledge at a morning tea in Wheelers Hill on 29 January – just two days before Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that this year’s federal election would be on 14 September.
The East West Link is an 18 kilometre road connection between the Eastern Freeway and Western Ring Road.
“The fact is this great city, this great state, is choking on its own traffic and that is why very swiftly after the election of a Coalition government we will contribute $1.5 billion towards the East West Link to make sure this happens,” Mr Abbott said.
“We will do the East West Link in conjunction with the Baillieu Government if we win the next election.”
Committee for Dandenong chairman Gary Castricum said the group saw transport issues as one of its core interests affecting industry and the communities of Greater Dandenong.
“From a Dandenong perspective, the East West link is worthy of support,” he said.
“It provides an alternative to the West Gate Bridge and CityLink tunnels for east-west traffic, improving travel-time reliability.”
Mr Castricum said the committee expected some passenger and freight traffic on the congested Monash Freeway would switch to the EastLink/Eastern Freeway/East West link route, improving the efficiency of freight routes.
“It will provide new links for freight vehicles to the intra and interstate highway network, Melbourne Airport and the Port of Melbourne,” he said.
More than 200 people attended the Mulgrave Country Club to meet Mr Abbott, his daughter Frances, Bruce electorate Liberal candidate Emanuele Cicchiello and Liberal Victorian Senator Helen Kroger.
Guests included church and school leaders, small business owners, and members of resident and sporting groups.
“Tony spoke out about the Coalition’s positive plans for a strong and prosperous economy and a safe and secure Australia and, once again, he made it absolutely clear that a Coalition government will keep to its word and repeal the toxic carbon tax,” Mr Cicchiello said.