By BRIDGET SCOTT
STRAP: Napthine’s $310m pledge to ease commuter squeeze
PREMIER Denis Napthine has announced a major upgrade of Thompsons Road which will include two grade separations of the Cranbourne railway line and the Western Port Highway.
Doctor Napthine has committed $310 million if re-elected to overcome congestion along Thompsons Road and improve safety for motorists in the south-east.
The upgrade would begin in mid-2016 under a re-elected Napthine government.
The Premier visited Cranbourne yesterday afternoon to make the announcement, which was welcomed by road users throughout the area.
Dr Napthine said the project was a key component of his government’s vision to build a better integrated transport network for Melbourne and Victoria.
The multi-million dollar project would create 300 more jobs and include the removal of the Thompsons Road level crossing. It will also involve a separated interchange to replace the Western Port Highway roundabout, a six-lane upgrade between the Western Port Highway and South Gippsland Highway, a six-lane upgrade between McCormicks Road and Dandenong-Frankston Road and a four-lane duplication between McCormicks Road and the Western Port Highway.
“Once the upgrade is complete, drivers using Thompsons Road will save up to 20 minutes as average speeds during peak hour will increase to 70km/h from the current 20km/h,” Dr Napthine said.
“The best way to address congestion and safety in the south-eastern suburbs is to have an integrated plan that focuses on both road and public transport investment at the same time.”
“This is why a re-elected Coalition Government will undertake a major $310 million upgrade of Thompsons Road alongside our existing Dingley Bypass project and our landmark Bayside rail and Cranbourne-Pakenham rail corridor upgrades.”
“No matter where you travel or whether you choose to go by train or by car – a re-elected Coalition Government will get you there faster and make your journey safer,” Dr Napthine said.
Dr Napthine also met with Liberal candidate for Cranbourne Geoff Ablett yesterday afternoon to look over plans for the proposed upgrade.
Mr Ablett said the Liberal Party was the only one which would fix Thompsons Road’s major bottlenecks.
“The roundabout at the intersection of Western Port Highway and Thompsons Road is one of the most congested and dangerous bottlenecks in the south-east,” Mr Ablett said.
“We will remove this roundabout and build a grade-separated interchange to help traffic flow freely and safely.”
