Infrastructure Australia, the Australian Government’s independent advisory body on major infrastructure projects, has added stage two of the Monash Freeway Upgrade to the Infrastructure Priority List as a high priority project.
Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said Infrastructure Australia’s assessment shows the benefit cost ratio of the project is a massive 4.6, reflecting the importance of the $711 million project to the Melbourne road network.
“Motorists make more than 470,000 trips on this corridor each day and that’s why the Turnbull Government is investing $500 million in this vital project – to help ensure those trips become quicker and easier for Melburnians,” Mr Fletcher said.
“Stage two of the Monash Freeway Upgrade will add 36 kilometres of new lanes to ease the current gridlock motorists face every day.
“It will slash congestion and improve travel times for drivers across Melbourne’s south east while also ensuring safer journeys.
“There are also important economic benefits – this upgrade will improve access to the growing Monash and Dandenong National Employment and Innovation Clusters, major employment centres incorporating Monash University, Monash Medical Centre and Dandenong Hospital.”
Mr Fletcher said this commitment reflects the determined advocacy of the Federal Member for La Trobe Jason Wood, who is a strong voice for his community.
Mr Wood said he has long campaigned to make the upgrade a reality.
“The project includes the upgrade of the Beaconsfield Interchange and the extension of O’Shea Road in Berwick, which would greatly benefit residents in the south east,” he said.
“The freeway will be widened between Warrigal Road and Eastlink and between Clyde Road and Cardinia Road, cutting an estimated nine minutes off a peak-hour trip between Pakenham and the city.
“This is going to deliver smoother and safer commutes for my community, ensuring people get from work to home sooner so they can spend less time in traffic and more time with the family.”
The Australian Government is contributing $500 million to the Monash Freeway Upgrade stage two with the Victorian Government contributing the remainder.
Major construction on the project is scheduled to start in mid-2019 and is expected to be completed in early 2022, weather permitting.
