VIC Monash Freeway Upgrade Stage 2 secures $367m investment boost

A joint investment valued at $367.5 million has been committed by the Australian and Victorian Governments to get the next stage of the Monash Freeway Upgrade going.

“This project is a top-order congestion-busting priority for Melbourne and we’re going to get it done.

“This project is going to be a significant boost to the local economy which is why we’ve been working closely with Premiers like Daniel Andrews to get this work underway as quickly as possible,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

Stage 2 of the Monash Freeway Upgrade will help improve safety as well as reduce congestion for the thousands of motorists that use this road each day.

“We’ve already delivered the first stage of upgrades on the Monash and we’re getting on with the next - to get people in Melbourne’s booming south east home safer and sooner.

“The extra lanes will slash nearly ten minutes off the morning peak hour commute into town, and better connect the Monash with Eastlink,” Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said.

Source: Major Road Projects Victoria

The $1.079 billion Stage 2 will deliver upgrades to the Monash and Princes freeways between Warrigal Road in Chadstone and Cardinia Road in Pakenham. The project includes:

• Additional 36 kilometres of new road between Warrigal Road and Eastlink (outbound), Eastlink to Springvale Road (inbound), and Clyde Road to Cardinia Road (both directions)
• Reconnecting Police Road to the Monash Freeway with an outbound on-ramp
• Connecting the Jacksons Road ramp directly to Eastlink with a separate road
• Adding two extra lanes in each direction on O’Shea Road between Clyde Road and Soldiers Road
• Upgrading the Beaconsfield Interchange to widen the overpass and add east facing ramps while extending O’Shea Road so it can join the interchange
• Installation of smart, on-road technology across the freeways and extend lane-use management system to the Beaconsfield Interchange
• Construction of a shared walking and cycling path along O’Shea Road between Clyde Road in Berwick and the Princes Highway in Beaconsfield

“This will improve access along the Monash Freeway, it will slash nine minutes off a morning peak hour trip between Pakenham and Malvern and 13 minutes in the evening peak period,” Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said.

This Monash Freeway upgrade will help improve road conditions in Melbourne’s south-east by increasing capacity, upgrading interchanges as well as improving traffic technology.

This next stage of the upgrade is part of the State Government’s significant investment for road and rail network projects.

“The next stage of the Monash Freeway Upgrade is part of our unprecedented investment in Victoria’s road and rail network - to get people home safer and sooner, wherever they live,” Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said.

Construction on Stage 2 of the Monash Freeway Upgrade is anticipated to commence in early 2020 and is due to be completed by 2022.

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Source: Premier of Victoria; Major Road Projects Victoria; Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure; Infrastructure Magazine; 7News.com.au