New traffic light intersections are now open to traffic on the Princes Freeway, as works continue on the first stage of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade package in Victoria.
The new traffic light intersections, on both sides of the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road interchange at the Princes Freeway, are now open following a busy spring campaign of works. These specific works aim to make the connection faster and less congested, with the traffic lights replacing the former roundabouts at the interchange, improving traffic flow and reducing queuing.
The Pakenham Roads Upgrade is one of a number of major infrastructure projects transforming travel in Melbourne’s south east – providing better connections to and from the Princes Freeway and the rapidly expanding Pakenham Employment Corridor, cutting congestion and delivering more walking and cycling options.
That investment includes level crossing removals at Racecourse Road, McGregor Road and Main Street, two new train stations at Pakenham and upgrades to Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road.
The opening of the new intersections also comes with new lanes on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road, with a new bridge now spanning the Princes Freeway alongside the existing bridge, significantly improving traffic flow in and around Pakenham. There’s also now two lanes in each direction all the way from Peet Street in Pakenham to Manks Road in Koo Wee Rup.
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As major works on the first stage of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade near completion by the end of this year, finishing works continue on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road including installing safety barriers and laying the top layer of asphalt on the new lanes.
Works also continue on the Princes Freeway to place the top layer of asphalt on the upgraded section between McGregor Road and Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road (Stage Two of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade), with major weekend and overnight closures of the freeway throughout November and December.
Symal is delivering the first stage of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade (Princes Freeway Interchanges Upgrade), in partnership with Major Road Projects Victoria.
Early works on the third and final stage of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade, the Racecourse Road Upgrade are underway to build an extra lane on Racecourse Road between Peet Street and Azola Drive and install traffic signals at the Bald Hill Road and Railway Avenue intersections.
Major construction is expected to start in early 2025 and be completed in early 2027.
