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An additional construction contract has been signed as part of a $3 billion package of suburban and regional road upgrades in Victoria.
Downer EDI Works will deliver the Western Port Highway Upgrade. As part of the upgrade, the roundabouts at Ballarto Road and Cranbourne-Frankston Road will be replaced with traffic lights to reduce congestion, improve safety and travel times.
The upgrade will relieve congestion and improve safety for the 22,000 drivers who use the highway daily. The Western Port Highway Upgrade will create 354 direct jobs and 481 indirect jobs.
Downer’s General Manager – Southeast Region, Karl McCarthy, said Downer looked forward to working closely with its partners to deliver this important project.
“Downer is pleased to have been entrusted by the Victorian and Federal Governments to deliver this important upgrade, which will improve road safety and traffic efficiency and deliver more reliable journeys for Victorian motorists,” Karl said.
“We are proud to be involved in the delivery of efficient urban transport networks that help create more liveable cities.
“Our team has significant expertise delivering services within the constraints imposed by a live operating environment, and we will work closely with all stakeholders to safely deliver this upgrade while minimising disruption on what is one of Melbourne’s busiest highways.”
Victorian Member for Carrum Sonya Kilkenny said that it was exciting to see works kick-off that will benefit thousands of local motorists every day.
“It’s great to see early construction get underway that pave the way for major works to take place from March, and the new intersections to open before the end of the year, benefitting the 17,000 vehicles that use this intersection every day,” Ms Kilkenny said.
“Replacing the roundabouts at the intersections of Ballarto Road and Cranbourne-Frankston Road with traffic lights will better manage traffic flow and will allow all 4 sets of traffic lights along the six-kilometre stretch of Western Port Highway from Thompsons Road to Cranbourne-Frankston Road to be sequenced.”
Victorian Member for Cranbourne Pauline Richards said as part of the upgrade, intersections will be widened and dedicated right-turn lanes and left-turn slip lanes will be added to improve traffic flow.
“This will make traffic flow more easily, easing congestion, making travel times more reliable for freight, commuters and locals,” Ms Richards said.
“The project will build on improvements already delivered by the Thompsons Road Upgrade and Hallam Road Upgrade and, together with other road upgrades in the area, will add further capacity to the local road network.”
The Australian and Victorian governments are jointly funding this $115 million project.
Work will start at the end of this month, with the removal of existing roundabouts, median strips and preparation for critical construction activities. The project is set to be completed before the end of the year.
View the full Media Release here
Source: Downer
Source: © Copyright, Commonwealth of Australia
