More relief is on the way for drivers in the south east, with the state government getting early works underway on the second stage of the Monash Freeway Upgrade.
The second stage of the upgrade will see an added 36 kilometres of new lanes and is expected to save drivers an additional nine minutes in travel time when complete. There will also be a ban on trucks travelling in the right hand lane.
Premier Daniel Andrews joined minister for roads Luke Donnellan on Wednesday, 3 October to announce the start of early works in Narre Warren.
Smart on-road technology will be installed from the South Gippsland Freeway to the Beaconsfield Interchange, giving drivers live traffic information and managing lanes to get people where they need to go faster and safer.
Drilling is taking place primarily on the Monash Freeway between the South Gippsland Freeway and Cardinia Road to review the ground conditions of where overhead Lane Use Management system gantries will be installed.
The Labor Government has also announced that it will permanently ban trucks from the right-hand lane of the Monash, following a successful six-month trial to improve safety.
Since the trial ban was introduced crashes have reduced by almost 40 percent.
“Early works are underway, the business case has been ticked off and we’ve shortlisted contractors to build this massive project – we’re getting on with the second stage of the Monash Freeway Upgrade,” minister for roads and road safety Luke Donnellan said.
“These right lane truck bans are reducing crashes, improving traffic flow and helping the 200,000 drivers that rely on the Monash to get home safely.”
Restrictions will continue to apply to trucks travelling in both directions between Huntingdale Road, Mount Waverley and Jacksons Road, Noble Park.
The second stage of the Monash Freeway Upgrade will cost $711 million and is being jointly funded with the Federal Government. Construction of the new lanes will start next year, with completion expected in mid-2022.
“We said we’d deliver the first stage of this massive upgrade of the Monash, and we have,” premier Daniel Andrews said. “Now, we’re not wasting a moment getting on with the next stage of works so we can get more people where they need to be sooner.”
