The $175 million Thompson Road upgrade in Victoria is one step closer to construction with the Victorian Government awarding the Stage 1 works contract to BMD Constructions Pty Ltd.
Stage 1 works will involve the removal of the level crossing on the Cranbourne railway line in Lyndhurst and a six lane bridge will be built over the railway line. The road will also be duplicated from Marriott Boulevard to the South Gippsland Highway.
“We’re cutting travel times by removing this level crossing and duplicating 10.7 kilometres along Thompson Road.
“We’re building a six lane bridge over the railway line, which will improve safety and cut travel times for the 26,000 motorists that travel on Thompson Road every day,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
Other works will include the creation of new paths as well as improved lighting for cyclists and pedestrians, providing a better connection to and from the Merinda Park train station.
While BMD celebrates their Stage 1 contract win, the preferred contractor for Stage 2 has not yet been disclosed.
For Stage 2 of works, it will involve the duplication of Thompson Road from Dandenong-Frankston Road to Marriott Boulevard as well as from Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road to Berwick Cranbourne Road.
The second stage will also include the construction of a new 10-kilometre shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists along Thompson Road – 8.2 kilometres on the north side and 1.5 kilometres on the south – between Western Port Highway and Evans Road.
The Thompson Road upgrade will be replacing the roundabout at the Western Port Highway with traffic lights in order to improve the flow of traffic.
“The Thompson Road Upgrade will reduce traffic and travel time, make the drive safer and support our growing population.
“We want Victorians to spend less time stuck in traffic and more time at home with their families,” Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan said.
Construction of Stage 1 will commence by the end of 2016 and is expected to be completed in 2018, with the entire project completed by mid-2019.
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