Work is ramping up on the Andrews Labor Government’s massive Suburban Roads upgrade, the biggest ever investment in Melbourne’s arterial road network.
Major upgrades are getting underway on Leakes Road, Derrimut Road and Dunnings and Palmers Roads to slash congestion, improve access and safety and boost traffic flow for drivers from Point Cook to Tarneit.
Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan and Member for Tarneit Telmo Languiller today visited Leakes Road, Truganina to announce a start of work construction on three projects as part of the $4 billion Suburban Roads Upgrade.
Eight kilometres of new lanes are being added in each direction on Leakes Road, between Derrimut Road and Fitzgerald Road, as well as upgrades to 18 intersections to create a more reliable east-west route for locals.
On Derrimut Road, drivers will enjoy an extra lane in each direction between Sayers Road and Dohertys Road and nine intersection upgrades to improve safety and unlock traffic flow around Tarneit.
Access will be improved or drivers using Dunnings and Palmers Roads with an extra traffic lane added in each direction between Princes Freeway and Point Cook Road.
Ten intersection upgrades and a dedicated bus lane in each direction from Wallace Avenue to Dunnings Road.
The three projects are part of the Western Roads Upgrade; a package to widen, duplicate, and upgrade key intersections on eight congested roads in Melbourne’s west over the next three years.
Work on the Dohertys Road upgrade started in June while Duncans Road began in August, with key upgrades on both projects including new bridges over the Princes Freeway.
Construction work is occurring behind barriers to keep these roads open while minimising impacts on commuters. Some lane closures and speed reductions may be required.
Major construction on the Western Roads Upgrade projects is being undertaken in stages to keep Melbourne’s western suburbs moving. The project is expected to be completed by 2021.
Quote attributable to Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan
“We’re fixing the suburban roads people in Melbourne’s west rely on everyday, so that they can spend less time stuck in traffic and more time with friends and family.”
Quote attributable to Member for Tarneit Telmo Languiller
“More than 22,000 cars and trucks travel on Leakes Road every day – by adding eight kilometres of extra lanes each way as well as upgrading 18 intersections, we’re building a more reliable east-west route and taking traffic off other local streets.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020