Big Build Victoria delivers major road and rail upgrades

Big Build, Victoria, continues supporting the local economy. The project is delivering vital major road and rail upgrades which have created thousands of jobs around the state. 50,000 jobs are expected to be supported across Victoria’s Big Build!

For example, Westkon, a pre-casting concrete factory in Melton, is a crucial supply chain business supporting construction works and benefitting from the transport infrastructure boom. Through the increase in demand, they have employed an additional 30 staff members to keep up.

Westkon is just one business that supplies essential building parts like pre-made bridge beams to road and rail projects. Pre-made concrete beams and panels help speed up works at level crossing removal projects sites, meaning drivers and train commuters face shorter disruptions.

Nearly 450 beams from Westkon has been commissioned across the M80 Upgrade, the Monash Freeway Upgrade, the South Gippsland Highway Realignment and the Mordialloc Freeway.

Over the past few weeks, 30 beams have been installed as part of the M80 Upgrade, forming brand new entry and exit ramps at Edgars Road. The beams each weigh up to 80 tonnes and measure up to 38 metres in length.

By the end of May, 140 beams will have been installed for the twin bridges over Waterways on the Mordialloc Freeway, with another 112 to come across the entire project. 112 of these beams are installed as part of the Monash Freeway Upgrade, and 48 beams will be installed on the South Gippsland Highway Realignment.

On the Regional Rail Revival program, 36 mega beams were needed for the superstructure of the new Avon River bridge, each weighing 60 tonnes and measuring 28m long and 1.5m high. Pre-cast concrete was also used for the Ballarat Line Upgrade to build platforms, stairs, and the new Cobblebank Station walls.

Concrete beams and panels for new road and rail bridges in Werribee, Coburg, Toorak, Frankston, and Dandenong. At Greens Road, Dandenong South, 60 beams weighing in at 7000 tonnes were lifted into place last month.

Every dollar spent during construction indirectly supports jobs throughout the economy and due to the sheer volume of work currently underway. 38,000 indirect jobs are expected to be supported in 2021.

For every 100 jobs created during construction, an average of 206 indirect jobs is supported. These jobs include manufacturing, health services, education, finance, accommodation and food supplies and are all playing an essential role in helping the Victorian economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said:

“Our massive infrastructure agenda isn’t just delivering major road rail projects, it’s supporting thousands of jobs across the economy that are helping everyday Victorians.”

“The sheer volume of work being created by Victoria’s Big Build, will not only help create jobs but keep Victorians in jobs for years.”

ENDS

19 April 2021 – Media Release

Read the Media Release here. 

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