Crushed rock and barriers from the Pakenham Roads Upgrade have been repurposed at the Thompsons Road intersection upgrade, with August the month for official works to begin.
Roughly 4000 tonnes of crushed rock have been saved from going to landfill, in addition to 354 concrete barriers from the Pakenham project being utilised at the new site.
Major Road Projects Victoria program director, Brendan Pauwels, said that the Thompsons and Berwick-Cranbourne Road Intersection Upgrade “has started on a great footing with the site office set up using recycled and reused materials”.
As of late, crews have commenced early works to remove trees and vegetation in preparation for the relocation of underground utilities.
From late August until January 2026, the westbound leg of the intersection will be closed as crews work to upgrade drainage and build the new carriageway and left turn slip lane.
“Little changes in the way we build these projects have a massive ability to add up; it’s great to see reused and recycled materials continuing to be a major area of focus for the Big Build,” Pauwels said.
These materials have been used as part of the project site compound, which was recently set up on the northeast corner of the intersection ahead of major works that are starting later this year.
This initiative is also part of the Big Build’s Recycled First Policy, which aims to integrate recycling and reuse into all levels of a project’s lifespan, and to help grow domestic recycling capabilities and fuel innovation.
The Intersection Upgrade aims to reduce travel times, improve safety, and cater for the area’s rapidly growing population.
