Drivers in Melbourne’s south east are getting faster, safer and more journeys on Melbourne’s busiest freeway, with work now complete on the Andrews Labor Government’s Monash Freeway Upgrade Stage 1.
With work complete the speed limit has been returned to 100 km/h, with drivers already seeing travel time savings of more than seven minutes at peak times.
Acting Premier James Merlino joined Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan today to thank workers, who’ve helped deliver the massive project on time and under budget.
More than 1.5 million working hours, 74 huge steel gantries, 200,000 tonnes of asphalt and more than 2,000 permanent concrete barriers have contributed to this stage of the project.
Eight bridges have been widened to carry new lanes, which have been added in the centre of the road.
New lanes opened between EastLink and Clyde Road in early May two months ahead of schedule, making room on the freeway for an extra 2,000 vehicles per hour.
Electronic signage above the freeway, including lane use signs and electronic speed limits were switched on in early June, which marked the return of the freeway to 100km/h. This technology allows the remote management of lanes, keeping traffic moving more efficiently, as well as faster responses to incidents.
Nine new freeway ramp signals are also now operating managing the number of cars entering the freeway helping traffic flow better and reducing stop-start driving.
The Australian and Victorian Governments have invested $1 billion to upgrade the Monash Freeway.
Stage 2 of the project will add new lanes between Warrigal Road and EastLink, and between Clyde Road and Cardinia Road and extend O’Shea Road to meet the freeway at an upgraded Beaconsfield Interchange.
Quotes attributable to Acting Premier James Merlino
“This massive project has been delivered on time, under budget and is already delivering faster, more reliable journeys for hundreds of thousands of Victorians every day – this is a government that gets things done.”
“Others talk about major road projects – but only the Andrews Labor Government is delivering the congestion busting infrastructure Victorians need.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan
“This road is a lifeline to the south east, especially the growing communities in Casey and Cardinia – that’s why we’re getting on and delivering the extra lanes we need to keep the Monash moving.”
“With this massive project done we can get on with Stage 2 of the Monash upgrade – procurement is underway, early works will begin this year and major roadworks will start next year.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020