Long road to success

THE Calder Freeway opening has been hailed by politicians as a boon for Bendigo’s economy and a milestone in the history of the region.The freeway will open to traffic on Monday after more than 20 years of construction work.The entire project, from the first-stage Gisborne bypass to the final section between Elphinstone and Harcourt North, has cost more than $757 million.The five-year of construction of 42km of freeway between Ravenswood and Kyneton has cost $404 million and includes: two rail crossings; three interchanges providing full access for traffic in both directions; seven million cubic metres of bulk earthworks; 27 bridges; 43 wildlife crossings; removing thousands of vehicles a week from the streets of Harcourt, Taradale and Malmsbury; and planting of more than two million trees and shrubs.Federal member for Bendigo Steve Gibbons paid tribute to the community for lobbying government to ensure the freeway was built.“It’s great to see this long-overdue project finally completed,” he said.“The Hawke Labor government started duplicating the Calder Highway in 1984 and the completion date was originally 2000.“In 1997 the Howard government nominated the Calder as a road of national importance - qualifying it for 50-50 federal and state funding - but it then abandoned this commitment in 1998 after Labor won back the seat of Bendigo in the federal election.“The government then had to be dragged kicking and screaming into honouring its promises by a series of vigorous community campaigns.“John Howard’s betrayal of Bendigo means this weekend’s opening is nine years later than it should have been.”State member for Bendigo West Bob Cameron also hailed the resolve of central Victorians in the fight for an improved road to Melbourne.“The completion of the duplication is the last chapter in a long battle,” he said.“Central Victorians never gave up working with state Labor to see the 50-50 state-federal road funded and completed.“The drive will be much safer, as well as more convenient, and now gives Bendigo and Melbourne a tremendous road link, complementing the fast rail.”State member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said the completion of the freeway was a historic occasion.“The Victorian Labor Government stuck with the Calder Highway duplication to Bendigo because we understood that it was vital for our community to have a safer and quicker journey to Melbourne.“We had strong support from the Bendigo community in our campaign to complete it, and the occasion of the opening is a key moment in Bendigo’s history.”