
Australia’s Melbourne Airport is set to start the construction of a road linking Tullamarine Freeway and Terminal 4’s car park.
The A$60m ($40.1m) T4 Express Link is an elevated loop road and is expected to decrease travel time to Terminal 4.
Melbourne Airport estimates that around 5,000 vehicles will use the road daily when it opens next year.
The project is the airport’s largest investment in road infrastructure to date, with construction beginning next week.
It is part of the first stage of the airport’s plan to boost road access to the airport.
The airport has allocated A$260m for the second stage of the road upgrade, which will include the construction of a second elevated link, to offer improved links to Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
Melbourne Airport Landside Access chief commercial officer Lorie Argus said: “We’re focused on improving the traveller experience from freeway to runway and the elevated loop road is going to make it easier and faster for people to reach Terminal 4, which services Jetstar, Tigerair and REX travellers.”
“As Victoria’s premier gateway, our passenger numbers are predicted to rise from 37 million to almost 70 million people per year by 2038, so we’re making the necessary changes now to keep pace with demand.”
In November last year, Melbourne Airport made the decision to switch the alignment of its third runway from east-west to north-south.
The proposed new runway will now run parallel to the airport’s existing main runway.
In October, Melbourne Airport announced plans to renovate its international arrivals hall to accommodate an increasing number of international passengers.