The Andrews Labor Government has delivered new flexible safety barriers, creating a more reliable journey for thousands of drivers travelling along a major road in Melbourne’s south east.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said works to install life-saving barriers along Thompson Road between the Mornington Peninsula Freeway and Narre Warren Road builds on improvements delivered last year through the Labor Government’s Thompsons Road Upgrade.
While roadside barriers were already in place along some road sections, new barriers have been installed on the centre median and left-hand side will provide a safer journey by reducing the risk of head-on and run-off-road crashes.
Barriers work by absorbing much of the force in a collision, reducing the impact on drivers and passengers, and allowing the vehicle to come to a gradual standstill.
Between 2012 and 2016, there were 12 crashes recorded along this high-volume road, resulting in 13 people sustaining injuries, four of which suffered severe injuries.
This builds on the works carried out last year through the Thompson Road Upgrade, that duplicated the road between Frankston-Dandenong and Berwick-Cranbourne Road, added an extra lane in sections and replaced a number of intersections including the intersection for Thomson’s Road and Frankston-Dandenong Road.
The Victorian and Federal Government’s $245 million RoadSafety Program is also delivering upgrades to the area with flexible safety barriers to be installed at Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road and Narre Warren-North Road between Princes Highway to Thompson Road and Princes Highway to Fox Road in the coming months.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll
“We’re doing the works needed to make roads safer – by delivering practical improvements that reduce the risk of serious crashes.”
“Whether it’s delivering major upgrades like we did last year at Thompsons Road, or making real time improvements to our road network every day, these investments deliver safer journeys and support local jobs.”
Quote attributable to Member for Carrum Sonya Kilkenny
“This is a major road linking key highways to our growing regions and following significant consultation with local councils and community groups, we found this to be the best solution for all road users.”
Quote attributable to Member for Cranbourne Pauline Richards
“Thompsons Road is now safer and more reliable for all locals using this busy route each day. We thank motorists for their patience during these important works - these barriers help reduce the severity of crashes when they’re unavoidable.”
Reviewed 25 May 2021