Contractors begin early works on two major Melbourne freeways

Geotechnical drilling is underway on the Sydney Road to Edgars Road section of the M80 Ring Road and the second stage of construction on the Monash Freeway Upgrade has begun.

Collectively the projects will create more than 850 jobs, while aiming to better connect drivers to major freeways and interstate links including the Hume Freeway, future North East Link, Princes and Westgate Freeways and the future West Gate tunnel.

The M80 Ring Roads upgrade, worth $518 million, is the fifth section to be improved on the road.

Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said the upgrade will slash almost 10 minutes off a morning peak hour trip between and the city.

“We’re improving vital road corridors in every direction you look, and these upgrades to the M80 and Monash will bring relief to hundreds of thousands of drivers each day,” Ms Allan said.

Geotechnical investigations will shape the final designs of this section of the M80 upgrade ahead of major construction, due to start in mid-2020.

New lanes will be added on the four-kilometre stretch between Sydney and Edgars Roads, and entry and exit ramps will be built to improve safety and remove weaving.

The $1.4 billion Monash Freeway Upgrade begins major construction next month. The upgrade is expected to improve trips for almost half a million daily motorists in Melbourne’s South East.

The Monash Freeway will be expanded from eight to ten lanes between Springvale Road and EastLink, and from four to six lanes between Clyde Road and Cardinia Road. A new outbound entry to the Monash Freeway will be created at Police Road and at the Jacksons Road entry to the EastLink.

Survey and geotechnical works are underway now as well as shoulder preparations to the freeway, in order to keep lanes open during construction.

Both highways will remain open during peak hours to keep freight and commuters on the move.

The Monash Freeway upgrade is expected to be complete in 2022, while work on the M80 is due for completion by early 2023.

Both projects are jointly funded by the Australia and Victorian Governments and are being delivered by Major Road Projects Victoria.