The Federal and Victorian governments have completed a suite of road projects one year ahead of schedule, with major works on the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road and the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road finalised.
The $1.5 billion South Eastern Roads Upgrades have delivered 34km of new lanes – cutting congestion, improving safety and reducing travel times for motorists.
This will deliver extra lanes, traffic lights and upgraded intersections to improve safety and travel flow.
The massive package of works has delivered 41 new and upgraded intersections and more than 28km of shared use paths, giving pedestrians and cyclists more options to move around their local areas.
Motorists are already benefiting from the completion of the Golf Links Road Upgrade and the Pound Road West Upgrade.
New lanes have been added in each direction between Abbotts Road and South Gippsland Highway and new shared walking and cycling paths and traffic lights have been installed at several intersections.
The Hallam North and Heatherton Road Upgrade and Lathams Road Upgrade added an extra lane in each direction between Heatherton Road and James Cook Drive.
Safety barriers have been installed and a new bridge has been built over the Peninsula Link – creating a new lane over the freeway.
Construction of the South Eastern Roads Upgrade has created about 1,700 full-time-equivalent jobs, with crews working more than three million work hours across the six projects since construction began 2021.
The South Eastern Roads Upgrade is part of the $3.1 billion Suburban Roads Upgrade – which is upgrading 12 key roads across Melbourne’s north and south east.
These works are jointly funded by the Federal and Victorian governments.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said, “The Australian Government is committed to keeping Victoria moving by investing in critical infrastructure projects like the South Eastern Roads works as part of the Suburban Roads Upgrades.
Victorian Member for Cranbourne, Pauline Richards, said, “These completed road projects have cut congestion and boosted safety for motorists for years to come.”
Victorian Member for South-Eastern Metropolitan, Lee Tarlamis, said, “These upgrades will cut down congestion, reduce travel times and improve road safety, ensuring residents in Melbourne’s south-east can get home to their friends and families sooner.”