OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has not steered away from promising funds for Melbourne's proposed East-West road tunnel, despite warnings in a new report that it might not be the best option.
The 18km road project, which would connect the Eastern Freeway and the Western Ring Road, has secured a pledge of $1.5 billion in federal funding if Mr Abbott wins the September election.
But a Victorian auditor-general's report on road congestion has warned the East-West Link may not be the most cost-effective solution, pointing out that there's no statewide congestion plan in place to help leaders choose infrastructure priorities.
A business case for the city road project, detailing traffic predictions and estimated costs, has not yet been given to Infrastructure Australia.
But Mr Abbott said the East-West Link was now the top infrastructure priority in Victoria.
"The East-West Link is the missing link in Melbourne's arterial road system," he told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.
"Are there other important projects? Yes, there are. Is this going to solve all of Melbourne's problems for all time? No, it won't.
"But right now, this is by far the most important road infrastructure project in Victoria."
Premier Denis Napthine has said he wants to convince Mr Abbott also to fund Melbourne's planned Metro rail tunnel - a rail link that would require a building a new 9km tunnel with five new stops.
Mr Abbott said he'd met Dr Napthine to discuss funding but wasn't convinced that urban rail could get federal support.
"It's only very recently, under the current government, that there's been substantial commonwealth support for commuter, urban rail projects," he said.
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