The authority selected route Option B2 as its preferred alignment for the Western Highway bypass in May 2013.

The route cuts through Riverside, north-east of the city. 

VicRoads regional director Ewen Nevett said the authority had been speaking directly with affected landowners and members of the community to better understand individual circumstances.

He said VicRoads was also revisiting the possibility of Option D.

Option D was a hybrid of the two shortlisted options, B2 and 11.

“Option D follows a similar route to Option B2, but deviates parallel to an existing road,” he said.

“VicRoads will exhibit Option D during the Planning Scheme Amendment process because it mitigates some of the direct impacts to farming properties.” 

Both options were on public display in December 2012.

Mr Nevett said VicRoads was finalising technical reports and updating the alignment map.

He said the updated map would be released at the end of this month.

“VicRoads will publicly exhibit the technical reports, maps and associated documents as part of the Planning Scheme Amendment process,” he said.

“The public exhibition period will be between four and six weeks at a date to be confirmed.”

Mr Nevett said the process would give landowners, stakeholders and the community an opportunity to comment on the alignment. 

“Anyone can make a submission either supporting or opposing the amendment to an independent planning panel,” he said.