Transport projects

Marong Western Freight Corridor

The Calder Freeway/Highway is one of the key freight routes connecting Mildura to Melbourne.

The proposed Marong Western Freight Corridor will service the Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct, as well as bypassing heavy vehicles from the Marong town centre, creating a safer and higher amenity environment for all road users and residents.

The Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct (BREP) project is currently funding an investigation into the preferred alignment of the corridor to attract future funding to develop it. A recommendation from the Department of Transport is expected by August 2024.

Maiden Gully intersection

Recent and planned development in the Maiden Gully area has meant the Maiden Gully Road/Calder Highway intersection needs to be upgraded.

The Department of Transport and Planning has a preferred alignment that is being costed for a future State Budget bid.

Howard Street, Epsom intersection

The Midland Highway is a key arterial road, whilst Howard Street is a gazetted truck route. Both roads carry in excess of 10,000 vehicles each day. The current Howard Street/Midland Highway signalised intersection and approaching lanes are not adequate for a major intersection. There have been many reported casualty crashes at this intersection in recent years, including involving students from the nearby primary school.

Total project cost – $18M

  • Victorian Government – $15M (including land acquisition)
  • Private investment – $3M

A planning permit amendment process for the Epsom Village Shopping Centre redevelopment has also secured land and investment by a developer to help improve the intersection.

Direct, high-frequency buses

Currently buses in Bendigo run every 30-60mins at peak times, with many services taking indirect routes that do not enable cross-city travel without changing buses.

As a result, patronage is low, with only approximately 0.8 per cent of residents taking the bus to work in 2021. Transport currently accounts for 22 per cent of the City’s emissions, the bulk of which are from cars. The City has an ambitious target to achieve zero emissions by 2030.

Reducing emissions from transport will require a dramatic increase in public transport use, including a significant increase in the use of buses for day-to-day travel. The City’s goal is to achieve a third of trips on public transport.

The City is seeking two changes:

  • Victorian Government-led review of Bendigo’s bus network to include direct, high frequency services, including trialling bus routes that move passengers directly between suburbs and do not come via the city centre (e.g. Eaglehawk to Kangaroo Flat). This would help achieve the City’s and Victorian Government’s emission reduction goals and aligns with the Victorian Government’s Bus Plan
  • Re-distribute the bus network in central Bendigo to address some of the current issues being experienced along Mitchell Street, in particular large groups of people congregating at one ‘super stop’ on either side of the road, and to make civic buildings including Galkangu - Bendigo GovHub, Bendigo Law Courts and Bendigo TAFE more accessible