Aintree residents are speaking out over worsening congestion and safety concerns on the Western Freeway, as daily commutes stretch longer and traffic volumes continue to rise.
Local Hira Gill said weekday trips on the freeway between Melton and Caroline Springs should take under 20 minutes, but regularly blow out to 40 or 45 minutes, particularly during peak hours.
“It’s crawling traffic most mornings, with dangerous merges and constant stop-starts,” Mr Gill said.
Mr Gill said hopes were raised during the 2025 federal election, when upgrades to the Western Freeway were promised.
Nearly a year on, he said residents are still waiting to see meaningful construction on the most congested section of the road.
“Traffic keeps worsening,” he said.
“We were told relief was coming, but nothing has changed on the ground.”
Safety concerns are also mounting around the Leakes Road interchange at Rockbank, which lacks traffic lights and has been the focus of ongoing community campaigning and protests.
“Exiting at Leakes and turning right toward Aintree is nightmare fuel,” Mr Gill added.
“Frustration leads to risky moves – cutting in, hard braking – and that’s when accidents happen.”
Transport Victoria data shows dozens of crashes in recent years across nearby interchanges, with residents warning that near-misses and minor incidents often go unreported.
“Reports cite 29 crashes between the interchange and Westcott Parade in recent years,” Mr Gill said.
“The true danger is far higher, which is why we can’t keep waiting.”
As development continues across Melbourne’s west, residents say road upgrades must keep pace with population growth to prevent congestion becoming entrenched.
Mr Gill said decision-makers must treat western suburbs infrastructure as a priority rather than a future promise.
“We contribute so much to Melbourne. We deserve better,” he said.
Melton council has also been advocating for improvements on the Western Freeway previously saying the the road has rural- standard infrastructure and wants it upgraded all the way from Deer Park to Melton.
Traffic modelling commissioned by Council indicates that this will increase to over 110,000 vehicles per day by 2031.
Hawke MP Sam Rae was contacted for comment.
