The 17.4km upgrade of the Hume Freeway through Albury-Wodonga is a federally-funded project with a total cost in excess of $500 million. The new four lane freeway begins in Wodonga, Victoria, where the Hume Freeway meets the Lincoln Causeway, and extends in a north-easterly direction, finishing at Ettamogah, north of Albury, NSW.

Vital Facts 

Contents  

Latest News
Features  
Project Benefits
Managing the environment
Involving the community
Protecting our cultural heritage
More information

Latest News

Opening Ceremony
After 37 years in the waiting, thousands attended one of the biggest event in the Border's history on March 4th 2007...


People strolled, cycled and roller bladed along the bypass creating a human traffic jam. The once-in-a-lifetime event overwhelmed many. Spectators not up to the task of walking enjoyed an airconditioned tour on one of the many buses. Some were keen to see the road open to traffic while others sad to see the day come to a close.

Arriving as the guest of honour, John Howard was swamped up by the masses. With 17 fewer traffic lights to tackle there was little protesters could do to find allies within the crowd. The $ 524 road is the single largest infrastructure project to be undertaken in regional Australia. And its most important stretch is now named after a famous express train, the "Spirit of Progress" bridge as John Howard announced on the day.
" This is an occasion for all Australians to celebrate their engineering capacities, the capacity of a community, after consultation, to get behind the project ... and the skills and abilities of the construction companies and their work forces, to bring a project to fruition not just on time but in fact ahead of time", said the Prime Minister.





With the official part of the day over, the northbound lane was opened to some very historic traffic, as a unique collection of cars made its way along the route, delighting the crowd. A large collection of vehicles from the Bandiana Army Museum also took part in the motorised parade.



There was no shortage of food and drinks on offer to help keep energy levels up, Alexandra Park in Albury providing the base for those keen to take in what the event had to offer, from jumping castles to some pretty face painting. Albury and Wodonga Councils worked together to provide an entertainment and environment for the whole family to enjoy. For the thousands of Abigorup workers, it was also a chance to sit back and take in what they have achieved.

Road now open to traffic
Around 11:10 am on March 6th 2007 the long awaited moment finally arrived. Two security vehicles in front of a Police car setting the pace, closely followed by a four wheel drive and two motorcycles besides, were the first to make their way along the northbound lanes, while two Abigroup cars led the first vehicles across on the southbound lanes. Both lanes of traffic came together at exactly the same time at the pedestrian Dean Street bridge. Just moments later, the southbound traffic made its way across the High Street interchange, making for an impressive and moving sight. Earlier that morning, the covers came off a number of freeway signs as crews were preparing for the opening and working on last finishing touches.
After more than 30 years the sense of occasion was not lost on those who witnessed this historic event for Albury Wodonga.
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Features
The project includes:

• a second Murray River crossing, to provide an additional link between Albury and Wodonga
• full diamond interchanges at Thurgoona Drive, Borella Road, Bridge Street and High Street (allowing entry/ exit in both directions)
• half diamond interchanges at Billy Hughes Bridge, Corrys Hill, and the Bandiana Link (allowing entry/exit from one direction only)
• a roundabout intersection treatment where the Bandiana Link connects with the Murray Valley Highway
• twenty six new bridges, including bridges over Flanagans Creek, Wodonga Creek, High Street and the Melbourne-Sydney railway as well as pedestrian bridges at Dean Street and Albury Railway Station
• noise walls where required
• extensive urban design and landscaping works.

• improved travel conditions and level of road safety for local and through traffic
• reduced congestion and travel times between Albury and Wodonga (35,000 vehicles per day will be removed from the Lincoln Causeway)
• elimination of six railway level crossings on roads adjacent to the new highway
• bypassing of 17 sets of traffic lights and 5 right-angled bends (such as "rollover corner")
• better access between Albury and Wodonga and surrounding areas
• removal of heavy vehicles from residential streets in South Albury

• Investigation: VicRoads and the RTA have undertaken detailed investigations into the effect of the Albury Wodonga Hume Freeway Project on the local environment. The results of the Environment Effects Statement and Environment Impact Statement are available from the project office.
• Audits: A number of regular environmental audits will be conducted by VicRoads to ensure work on the Hume Freeway does not adversely impact on the Albury-Wodonga natural systems.
• Landscaping: Included in the project is an extensive landscaping component, designed to ensure local flora species thrive around the works site and native fauna are encouraged to stay in the area.
• Noise walls: Noise walls will be erected where required in the vicinity of the High Street Interchange and along Bandiana Link.
• Water quality: In consultation with the EPA and Council, VicRoads is developing a drainage strategy for the project incorporating water sensitive road design principles. This will ensure water quality meets State Environment Planning Policy standards and takes account of the location of the supply for the North Eastern Region Water Authority.
• Project Environment Protection Strategy (PEPS): VicRoads has developed a PEPS which summarises the impacts and ameliorative measures required to mitigate those impacts from the project. All statutory stakeholders have been consulted and given opportunity to comment on the strategy which will form the basis of the contractor's Environmental Management Plan.

• Frank Burfitt, Independent Chairperson
• Graham Barnes, Community Representative
• Brendan Brown, Community Representative
• Gary Zauner, Community Representative
• John Watson, Community Representative
• John Mollison, Community Representative
• John Moran, Community Representative
• Ron Lutton, Community Representative
• Kevin Freeman, North East Water
•  Alan Murray, Bangerang Cultural Centre Co-operative Ltd
• Senior Sergeant Cameron Roberts, Traffic Management Unit Wodonga District
• Gary Arnold, City of Wodonga
• Cameron Silverthorne, Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd
• Doug Smith, VicRoads

• Cambourne House: This heritage-listed house, and the majority of its surrounds, was retained as a result of changes to the freeway alignment. Continued liaison with key heritage stakeholders and the owner of the property during construction ensured that any impact on the property was minimised.
• Heritage approval: Heritage Victoria granted a permit to allow works to be carried out in and around Cambourne House. The conditions of approval were incorporated in the contract specifications.
• Indigenous monitors: VicRoads, in conjunction with the local indigenous community, established principles to be observed in a monitoring agreement. This agreement saw local indigenous monitors on site during critical phases of the construction work, to ensure the identification and protection of any items of indigenous cultural significance that were uncovered during construction.
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