Road duplication on final lap

THE final stage of the $80 million duplication of the Cranbourne-Frankston Road started last week.
The $30 million duplication of the last section, which officially began last Thursday, involves widening the road to four lanes between Hall Road and Western Port Highway.
The Cranbourne-Frankston Road is the main arterial that connects Cranbourne and Frankston.
A roundabout at Pearcedale Road intersection and right-turn lanes in the centre median into local streets will also be constructed, along with an upgrade of two lanes in each direction between Brookland Greens Boulevard and Western Port Highway in Cranbourne South.
Cyclists will be catered for with kerbside bicycle lanes, shared user footpaths and sealed road shoulders.
Cranbourne MP Jude Perera turned the first sod last week and said the project was important for transport infrastructure in Melbourne’s south-east.
“With the high rate of residential development in the area, more residents now rely on the Cranbourne-Frankston Road as their primary route for local travel and access to other major arterial roads in the area,” Mr Perera said.
“This is a dream come true that the final piece of the duplication has now been put in place. A strong investment of more than $80 million has been committed.”
The very first section to be duplicated along the road, between McClelland Drive and Warrandyte Road, started in November 2002.
VicRoads project director for the south-east Charlie Broadhurst said works on this project would connect to the recently duplicated Sladen Street and Cranbourne-Frankston Road between McClelland Drive and Western Port Highway.
“Works are also well underway to duplicate Western Port Highway between Cranbourne-Frankston Road and North Road with completion expected early this year,” Mr Broadhurst said.