Early works for the $711 million Monash Freeway Upgrade stage two will be fast tracked with the first package of works being funded from the $111 million saved from stage one of the project.
Smart on-road technology will be installed from the South Gippsland Freeway to the Beaconsfield Interchange, giving drivers live traffic information and managing lanes to get people where they need to go faster and safer.
The Victorian Government has also submitted the full business case for Monash stage two to Infrastructure Australia for the Commonwealth’s final approval.
Stage two of the Monash Freeway Upgrade will add 36km of new lanes, slashing congestion and improving travel times for more drivers in Melbourne’s south east.
The second stage of the upgrade will expand the Monash from eight to ten lanes between Warrigal Road and EastLink to the west, and from four to six lanes between Clyde Road and Cardinia Road to the east, slashing nine minutes off a peak hour trip between Pakenham and the city.
There’ll also be better connections at Beaconsfield and links to a new, duplicated O’Shea Road.
“We’re getting things done – widening the Monash all the way from Chadstone to Pakenham,” Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews said.
“The first stage of our massive Monash expansion is almost finished and we’re fast tracking the next stage – to get people home quicker and safer, sooner.”
The business case for the $711 million project shows a cost-benefit-ratio of 4.6 to one, with the project set to create 600 jobs in construction.
The business case will be release publicly as soon as approved by the Commonwealth.
The first stage of the Monash Freeway Upgrade is currently under construction and will be completed in 2018.
Construction on the new fast-tracked package of stage two works will begin in late 2018, while construction on new lanes will start in 2019 after a tender process, and the new lanes will be open in 2022.
Victorian Roads and Road Safety Minister, Luke Donnellan, said, “We all know what it’s like to sit in gridlock on the Monash – that’s why we’re getting on with the job, building more lanes, better interchanges and creating a truly managed motorway to get people home safer and sooner.
“Adding more lanes where they’re needed most will slash congestion and deliver faster, more reliable journeys from Chadstone right through to Pakenham.”
