By Brendan Rees
Motorists are breathing a sigh of relief following the completion of a $225 million upgrade of Thompsons Road – four months ahead of schedule.
The upgrade follows a major intersection works at Frankston-Dandenong Road and Thompsons Road, which has been removed and new traffic lights installed, along with new lanes over a five week period.
The new intersection, which is used by more than 58,000 motorists a day, has been widened to feature two dedicated right-turn lanes and three through-lanes on each approach to the intersection, as well as slip lanes so vehicles can turn left without disrupting through traffic.
The project has also seen the duplication of a 10.7 kilometre stretch of the road and the removal of a level crossing. The near-by Evans Road level crossing will be removed later this year.
In other developments, designs for the new Hallam train station have been revealed following community feedback.
The elevated station will feature platforms spanning Hallam Road, and entrances, lifts and stairs on both sides of the road so commuters can access the station without crossing busy Hallam Road.
The new station will be built as part of the Hallam Road level crossing removal project, which will begin later this year with the crossing to be removed in 2022.
Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said the completion of the major road upgrade would support “easing congestion and keeping Victorians in work through the coronavirus pandemic”.
“We’ve delivered the Thompsons Road upgrade four months early and we’re getting on with removing the Hallam Road level crossing and delivering the brand new station.”
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan said the new Hallam train station would create “vastly better facilities and a bold design,” noting it will be a “local landmark for one of the fastest growing communities in Victoria”.
The State Government anticipates an extra 121,000 passengers each week will be able to use the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines during peak periods – a 45 per cent increase, once level crossings are removed, the Metro Tunnel completed, and new trains are delivered.
The Government has invested more than $70 billion through Victoria’s Big Build benefiting road and rail users across Melbourne’s booming south eastern suburbs.
