By Brendan Rees
A long-awaited upgrade of the Monash Freeway is now complete with drivers in the south east expected to enjoy faster and safer journeys.
With the speed limit also returned to 100 km/h, drivers have experienced travel time savings of more than seven minutes at peak times.
Acting Premier James Merlino joined Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan on Sunday 15 July to thank workers, who’ve helped deliver the massive stage 1 upgrade project on time and under budget.
“This massive project has been delivered on time, under budget and is already delivering faster, more reliable journeys for hundreds of thousands of Victorians every day – this is a government that gets things done,” Mr Merlino said.
Mr Donnellan said the freeway was a “lifeline” to the south east, especially the growing communities in Casey and Cardinia – “that’s why we’re getting on and delivering the extra lanes we need to keep the Monash moving.”
New lanes have opened between EastLink and Clyde Road in early May two months ahead of schedule, making room on the freeway for an extra 2,000 vehicles per hour.
The Australian and Victorian Governments have invested $1 billion to upgrade the Monash Freeway.
Federal Member for La Trobe Jason Wood said he has long campaigned to make the upgrade a reality.
He said the project included the upgrade of the Beaconsfield Interchange and the extension of O’Shea Road in Berwick.
“The freeway will be widened between Warrigal Road and Eastlink and between Clyde Road and Cardinia Road, cutting an estimated nine minutes off a peak-hour trip between Pakenham and the city,” Mr Wood said.
Shadow Minister for Roads and Infrastructure David Hodgett said any initiative that increased freeway capacity and therefore reduced journey times was welcomed but Melbourne continued to suffer an “ongoing congestion crisis.”
“Only the Liberal Nationals have a real plan to get Victoria moving again via building both an East West Link and a North East Link, as well as removing 55 of Melbourne and Geelong’s most congested and dangerous intersections,” he said.
Electronic signage above the freeway, including lane use signs and electronic speed limits were switched on in early June, which marked the return of the freeway to 100km/h.
Nine new freeway ramp signals are also now operating managing the number of cars entering the freeway.
