By Mitchell Clarke
Preliminary works to upgrade a problem intersection in Beaconsfield are officially underway.
The Glismann Road/Beaconsfield Avenue intersection at Princes Highway is the second stretch of road to be fixed as part of a mammoth $36 million highway upgrade over the next three years.
Like O’Neil Road, the Glismann Road intersection will be upgraded to be become a fully signalised t-intersection with upgraded street lighting, pavement resurfacing, drainage upgrades and signalised bicycle crossings.
A new left-turn slip lane and an extended right turn lane will be created into Beaconsfield Avenue, and dual right turn lanes out of the avenue will be constructed.
The jointly-funded project received $17.8 million from the Cardinia Shire Council’s Princes Highway Intersection Project and $17.8 million as part of the Federal Government’s Urban Congestion Fund.Cardinia Shire Council mayor and Beacon Hills Ward councillor Brett Owen said the upgrades were of high importance to his community.
He said traffic modelling identified several intersections along the highway needing an upgrade to cater for increasing traffic volumes.
“Council is committed to improving roads across the shire, and we have a number of exciting and innovative roads projects underway as part of our Better Local Roads Program,” he said.
“As well as the Princes Highway Intersection Project, we’re also creating more sealed connections throughout the existing road network through the $25 million Strategic Sealed Roads Project and the $150 million federally-funded Sealing the Hills Project.
“We will continue to strive to improve the standards of our roads to increase safety and comfort for all road-users.”
Federal La Trobe MP Jason Wood said the project would allow local roads to be able to cope with the expected future growth in Beaconsfield, Officer and Pakenham.
“The Liberal Morrison Government’s Urban Congestion Fund to upgrade a number of priority intersections along the Princes Highway in Cardinia Shire will cut travel times and make roads safer while boosting jobs and the economy,” Mr Wood said.
“I am very proud to secure federal funding to upgrade eight intersections along the Princes Highway between Pakenham and Beaconsfield.”
Works at Glismann Road and Beaconsfield Avenue are expected to be completed by mid-2021.
The intersections to be upgraded along the Princes Highway are:
• Beaconsfield Avenue/Glismann Road, Beaconsfield.
• O’Neil Road, Beaconsfield.
• Brunt Road/Whiteside Road, Beaconsfield.
• Bayview Road, Officer.
• Tivendale Road/Station Street, Officer.
• McMullen Road, Officer.
• Arena Parade, Officer.
• Thewlis Road, Pakenham.
