A RE-ELECTED Labor Government will make the commitment to upgrade John Street in Kilmore, linking both sides of town without the need to travel on Sydney Street.
It’s part of a $9 million commitment announced by State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes alongside Labor Candidate for Euroa Julian Kelly, with traffic lights at the intersection of Kilmore-Lancefield Road and a full extension of John Street included in the commitment.
Ms Symes said it has been a project heavily identified by the Mitchell Shire Council.
“We have a $9 million commitment to extend John Street and traffic lights at Kilmore-Lancefield Road. This is a project identified by Mitchell Shire, in particular, because it will enable locals to avoid the main street, to effectively get from one side of town to the Woolies area and back without going through the main street,” she said.
“It’s an obvious missing link, and it’s a $9 million investment in that road with traffic lights as well, but importantly, it complements the new roundabout at Wandong Road as well, just in terms of that safety, knowing how the community use the roads and responding to that.”
Mitchell Shire Council Mayor Councillor John Dougall said it was a ‘fantastic’ commitment.
“We certainly agree that John Street is our biggest missing link road, and we don’t have a solution for that yet, but we really welcome this commitment. It’s fantastic, it would take pressure off the main street in Kilmore, and it will connect new suburbs with the shopping precinct, and that is really important,” he said.
The package for Hamilton Street and John Street is part of 50 local roads receiving upgrades across Victoria, with an $890 million package to upgrade the roads across the state.
Premier Ben Carroll said it was a big commitment from the State Government.
“We’re getting back to basics – fixing 500,000 potholes and upgrading 50 local roads,” he said.
“Just like we removed more than 50 level crossings, Labor will upgrade 50 local roads.”
Minister for Roads Paul Hamer said it was an equal commitment across the state.
“From country roads to suburban streets, we’re upgrading your local roads,” he said.