The Andrews Labor Government is making it faster and easier to get in and out of Eltham and neighbouring suburbs, with a massive new upgrade to Fitzsimons Lane.
The works will be part of the Suburban Roads Upgrade – the biggest investment in suburban roads in Victoria’s history – to fix 22 key suburban arterials and create more than 4,200 jobs.
All lanes will be opened to traffic between Porter and Foote Streets and there’ll be major upgrades to key intersections, slashing travel times and increasing peak hour travel speeds by more than 50 per cent.
The roundabouts at Main Road and Porter Street will be replaced with traffic lights and existing traffic lights at the Foote Street intersection will be upgraded to improve reliability for drivers.
The traffic lights will improve the efficiency of these intersections and will be able to be controlled in real time to better manage traffic flows.
The existing bus lanes will be removed between Porter and Foote Streets allowing all lanes to be opened to all traffic.
New traffic lights will also be installed at the intersection of Main Road and Leane Drive.
Ultimately, the Labor Government’s North East Link will provide a long term solution for Fitzsimons Lane, taking more than 10,000 vehicles a day off the road and providing a more efficient alternative for trucks heading from Melbourne’s south east to the northern suburbs.
The Victorian Budget 2018/19 will include $2.2 billion to upgrade 13 key arterial routes across the northern and south-eastern suburbs, on top of the $1.8 billion Western Roads Upgrade announced in last year’s budget.
As part of the Suburban Roads Upgrade package, several other key routes through Melbourne’s northern and north-eastern suburbs will be upgraded, including Bridge Inn Road, Yan Yean Road and Epping Road.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan
“This is the single biggest investment in suburban roads in Victoria’s history – it will fix local roads and get people home sooner.”
“With work already underway on the Western Roads Upgrade, this unprecedented investment will now mean the benefits of this project are felt across our city from Werribee to Pakenham, from Doreen to Dingley.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Eltham Vicki Ward
“During peak hour Fitzsimons Lane has long been a cause of frustration. Last year we gave VicRoads $1.5m to look at how they could improve traffic flow. They’ve been hard at work to put together changes that will get us all home - and to work - quicker.”
“This much-needed upgrade will improve travel times and reliability on Fitzsimons Lane. Funding is in this year’s State Budget so we can get started on it as quickly as possible”
Reviewed 19 August 2020