Victoria gets to keep $1.5 billion it was given for the axed East West Link, but it has to be spent on new congestion-busting projects.
The federal cash was "in a locked box" under former prime minister Tony Abbott but the new leadership team has cracked it open.
"We want to see road projects continue so rather than getting into one of these endless discussions about who's holding the money and where it is going, I think people just expect treasurers to just sort that out and make sure the projects happen," Treasurer Scott Morrison told 3AW on Wednesday.
Those projects include the $11 billion Melbourne Metro Rail tunnel, the $5.5 billion Western Distributor, and a $200 million upgrade of the Monash freeway.
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said the projects would have to be agreed cooperatively with the federal government.
"(They will be) new projects to deal with the congestion that we confront both on our road and our rail network," he told reporters.
Mr Pallas said he was comforted by the fact the federal government was now talking about "rational choices around infrastructure", after the frustrating relationship he had with the previous leaders.
Victoria is looking for more federal money for the Metro project, with just $4.5 billion in funding secured for it so far.
"I understand and I accept the federal government will expect to be engaged, consulted every step of the way if they're going to put real money into Melbourne Metro," he said.
"We're still a fair way from getting that money from them."
Mr Morrison said the federal government was still committed to the East West Link, but it was time to get moving on other projects.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy said while he was happy the money had been unlocked, it was concerning that Victoria had "virtually nothing to spend it on straight away".
"Daniel Andrews needs to provide Victoria with a list of projects ready to go. Announcing a press release is not a business case," Mr Guy told reporters.
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