One year on, Monash work continues

Work is continuing on the Monash Freeway.

It’s hard to see sometimes behind the safety barriers, but work on the Monash Freeway has reached several critical milestones recently, according to the State Government.

Its figures show more than 1.4 million work hours were completed in 2020, including the removal of 50,000 tonnes of soil to make way for the new lanes.

Gantries have been installed along the freeway, and in December, new overhead signage between South Gippsland Freeway and Princes Highway completed and turned on.

Additionally, 24 “redundant” gantries have been removed by the project team.

Bridges along the Monash have been prepared for widening; this includes at Ferntree Gully Road, Jacksons Road, Police Road and Cardinia Creek.

In total, eight bridges need to be widened: at Forster Road, Ferntree Gully Road, Police Road, Beaconsfield Interchange, Jacksons Road, Lower Gum Scrub Creek, Officer South Road and Cardinia Creek.

In the coming months, works will continue to widen bridges at Lower Gum Scrub Creek, Forster, Ferntree Gully and Officer South roads with the installation of beams for the new lanes.

Work will also commence on new freeway ramps at Beaconsfield Interchange.

According to the State Government, road surfaces will be maintained throughout with sections of existing asphalt replaced.

Lane and road closures will be required during sections of the build, with details of these to be released closer to the time.

The Monash Freeway Upgrade is expected to be complete in 2022.