OLD Sydney Road’s long-awaited upgrade is set for a start, with planning and investigative works commencing this month.
Federal Member for McEwen, Rob Mitchell, said he was thrilled with the news.
“This is an important milestone in delivering improved road infrastructure for Beveridge and surrounding communities,” he said.
The $45 million project from the Federal Government is part of the $1.2 billion suburban road blitz partnered by the State Government.
“This is an important step forward which will allow the needed planning and investigative works to get underway and the upgrade to commence” Mr Mitchell said.
“Old Sydney Road is an important connection for our growing community. The project will seal and upgrade 5.6 kilometres of the road from the Hume/Mitchell Shire boundary up to Camerons Lane in Beveridge.
“With Mitchell Shire Council responsible for delivering the project, the upgrade will improve road safety, strengthen local connections and provide an alternative north-south route for residents, businesses and emergency services when incidents or congestion affect the Hume Freeway.
“We know that population growth brings increased pressure on roads, and investing in the infrastructure needed to support that growth is essential.”
The upgrade to Old Sydney Road will also complement ongoing projects, including the Camerons Lane interchange and the Watson Street interchange and intersection works.
“Investing in roads and transport infrastructure is about making sure our communities can get where they need to go safely and efficiently,” Mr Mitchell said.
“I look forward to seeing this project progress and will keep advocating for the infrastructure our growing communities need.”
Mitchell Shire Mayor Councillor John Dougall said this was a project that would bring relief to a frustrated town.
“We know how frustrated our Beveridge community is with traffic. People are leaving home earlier and getting back later. That time comes straight out of their family life,” he said.
“This road won’t fix congestion on its own. What it does is give people a real choice about how they get in and out of Beveridge. Thank you to Rob Mitchell and the Australian Government for funding it in full.”
The Mitchell Shire Council confirmed that it had appointed a civil engineering and design consultant through a public tender earlier in 2026, with the first job to undertake a series of investigations to build a picture of the road and the land around it.
The next steps will see small crews surveying and mapping the road from ground level and in the air over the next few weeks, undertaking geotechnical investigations and identifying where pipes and cables are, with much of the work happening off the road with minimal impact to traffic.
Some later checks, however, will see traffic management, with speed reductions and single lane closures, with Mr Dougall saying people will remain updated throughout the process.
“We know people want to see this road finished, so we’ll keep them updated at every step,” he said.
The design development process is expected to run until May next year, where Council will prepare the construction tender, where a contract is set to be awarded in late 2027. Construction is then planned from late 2027 to March 2029.