The Andrews Labor Government is building the long-awaited Mordialloc Bypass, with important geotechnical investigations to start within the Waterways estate wetlands.
The $300 million Bypass, will see a new 9 kilometre road link from the Mornington Peninsula Freeway in Aspendale Gardens to the Dingley Bypass.
Five 35-50 metre deep boreholes will this week be drilled at potential bridge pier locations through the wetlands area adjacent to the Waterways estate, which will help inform the design of the overpass over Springvale Road and the Mordialloc Creek wetlands.
The over water drilling will take place from a 6x6 metre pontoon, which will be lifted into the water by a 200 tonne crane to protect the vegetation around the banks of the wetlands.
In addition to these works, VicRoads is also undertaking ecological investigations to minimise potential impacts to the wetlands and the habitats.
The Mordialloc Bypass will ease congestion for Melbourne’s bayside suburbs by separating the busy Springvale Road intersection through the construction of an overpass.
Traffic signals will be installed at other intersections to improve safety and traffic flow and a shared cycling and pedestrian path will be constructed along the full length of the bypass.
Melbourne’s south east is growing rapidly and the increasing traffic is causing frustration, with congestion impacting the reliability of local buses and delaying drivers and freight vehicles.
Peak hour traffic turning on and off the Mornington Peninsula Freeway often results in queuing, causing bottlenecks and delays on surrounding roads.
Over coming months we will be asking local residents, business owners and road users to comment and provide feedback on the concept design for the project online and at community information sessions to help shape the final design.
The final design of the Bypass will be determined through these planning and environmental processes, along with extensive community consultation beginning in the coming months by VicRoads.
A preliminary business case has been prepared and a final detailed business case is currently underway, as well as determining the required planning and environmental approvals.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan
“The Andrews Labor Government is building the Mordialloc Bypass to improve travel times, boost reliability and improve safety for motorists from some of Melbourne’s fastest growing suburbs.”
“These geotechnical investigations are an important step in the planning process before building the bypass, which will slash congestion and take trucks off local roads.”
Quote attributable to Member for Mordialloc Tim Richardson
“We’re getting on with building the infrastructure that people living in Melbourne’s south east need.”
Quote attributable to Member for Keysborough Martin Pakula
“Building the Mordialloc Bypass requires careful planning including flora, fauna and heritage studies, traffic modelling and community consultation to help ensure we get the final design right.”
Quote attributable to Member for Frankston Paul Edbrooke
“The south east is one of the fastest growing communities and motorists are increasingly facing unacceptable delays and that’s why we’re building the Mordialloc Bypass to make it faster and easier to get where you need to go.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020