Western Roads Upgrade electrical works on track

Vital work to move and replace electricity infrastructure as part of the Western Roads Upgrade project has reached a key milestone.

The $1.8 billion Western Roads Upgrade project is part of the Victorian Government’s ‘Big Build’ and involves major upgrades of eight main roads in Melbourne’s west and maintaining more than 260km of roads between Footscray to Werribee.

As part of the project, electricity distributor Powercor has been conducting a $18 million works program to relocate existing electrical infrastructure away from the proposed road widening works.

This month, Powercor installed one of the largest poles in its network – a 27.5m pole at the Doherty’s road intersection, allowing for crucial overhead cables to cross the newly constructed roadway.

The pole is more than four times the size of regular poles on Powercor’s network and marks an important stage in the significant project.

Powercor’s work includes:

• 4000 project management hours
• 3000 design hours
• 30,000 construction hours

With works taking place in Melbourne’s manufacturing heartland, Powercor has conducted extensive consultation with businesses and residents to minimise disruptions.

These actions include;

• Planning extensive works during a single shutdown to avoid multiple shutdowns
• Conducting night works; and
• Coordinating shutdowns with other works such as the West Gate Tunnel

Powercor thanks commuters and the local community for their patience and understanding as work continues on Western Roads Project.

For more information on the Western Roads Upgrade Project, visit https://roadprojects.vic.gov.au/projects/westernroadsupgrade