By ALANA MITCHELSON
MONASH Freeway upgrades to improve traffic congestion and road safety are set to begin in September.
Upgrades would include widening the road from four to five lanes in each direction between EastLink and the South Gippsland Freeway, and from two to three lanes in each direction from the South Gippsland Freeway to Clyde Road – more than 30 kilometres of additional lanes.
New ramp signals would be installed at nine new locations between Chadstone and Pakenham including the EastLink Interchange to improve traffic flow and reduce stop-start driving conditions and dangerous sudden braking.
Minister for Roads and Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan said the upgrade would create a “faster, safer and more reliable Monash Freeway for 200,000 motorists”.
“With more lanes and smart technologies we’re removing choke points and ensuring a more reliable journey for motorists now and into the future,” Mr Donnellan said.
Premier Daniel Andrews said up to 38 electronic Lane Use Management Signs (LUMS) would be installed between Warrigal Road and the South Gippsland Freeway, creating “one of the longest stretches of managed motorway in the world”.
The LUMS would be used together with a new automatic incident detection system to improve traffic flow by providing motorists with information in the event of an incident. Eight new variable message signs would also be installed to give drivers real-time road condition and travel information.
Mr Andrews said the project would slash travel times by 10 minutes and create 400 jobs, and is expected to reduce the number of “serious crashes” by 20 per cent.
The State Government has awarded the contract to Fulton Hogan and construction is due to be completed by 2018.
