Drivers on the Monash Freeway can look forward to some welcome relief, with more than 30 kilometres of new lanes opening this week – under budget and two months ahead of schedule.
Premier Daniel Andrews joined Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan to announce new lanes will begin to open from tonight, slashing congestion and reducing travel times for the 200,000 drivers that rely on the Monash every day.
From tonight, an extra lane will be opened in each direction between Eastlink and the South Gippsland Freeway – taking the total number of lanes from four to five.
Over the following two nights, the new lanes between the South Gippsland Freeway and Clyde Road will be opened.
The new lanes make room on the freeway for an extra 2,000 vehicles per hour along this vital corridor between EastLink and Clyde Road.
All works on the first stage of the Monash Freeway Upgrade will be complete mid-year, with a new, state-of-the-art freeway management system to be switched on within months to make trips on the freeway quicker, smoother and safer.
This new technology includes digital overhead lane signs that help to automatically and remotely manage traffic flow onto the freeway, making it run smoother and providing more reliable travel.
This smart technology will mean that the Monash freeway can move more people per hour than any comparable road around the world.
More than 1.3 million working hours have been put into making the journey on the Monash better.
Around 200,000 tonnes of asphalt and more than 2,000 permanent concrete barriers have contributed to this massive milestone.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“More lanes mean a faster trip for the hundreds of thousands of people that rely on the Monash every day.”
“We’re not wasting a day – new lanes open this week, the freeway management system will be switched on mid-year, then early works will begin on the next stage of the Monash Freeway Upgrade.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan
“These new lanes will make a real difference for drivers in the south east, boosting capacity on the freeway and getting people home sooner and safer.”
“We know that the delays have been frustrating, but this is a massive and vitally important project - our workers are getting it done as quickly and safely as possible.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020