With this number set to increase to around 55,000 by 2030, the Victorian Government has committed to duplicating 10.7 kilometres of Thompsons Road, significantly improving connectivity for those who travel, live and work in the region.
Two sections of Thompsons Road (between Mornington Peninsula Freeway and Dandenong-Frankston Road and between South Gippsland Highway and Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road) have already been duplicated.
Stage one of the upgrade included duplication from Marriott Boulevard to South Gippsland Highway, including removal of the level crossing.
The removal of this crossing has helped the Level Crossing Removal Authority to formally reach the halfway mark of the 50 level crossings assigned for removal, with 25 level crossings now gone for good as we continue to work ahead of schedule to remove all 50 by 2022.
The second stage of Thompsons Road to be upgraded is between Dandenong- Frankston Road and Evans Road, as well as between Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road. These sections will be upgraded to a minimum of two lanes in each direction. Duplication of these remaining sections will complete the Thompsons Road Upgrade project.
The upgrade is a $207 million project, funded by the Victorian government, and includes duplication works between Berwick-Cranbourne Road and Dandenong-Frankston Road, as well as the provision of two three-lane bridge structures over the Cranbourne rail line.
BMD Constructions recently achieved a major milestone on Stage 1 of the project, with the opening of the first of two, three lane bridges, separating road traffic from rail, permanently.
The Thompsons Road Upgrade team opened the newly constructed northern bridge and traffic was diverted onto the new eastbound lanes between South Gippsland Highway and Marriott Boulevard.
Nearly 145,000 work hours, 1700 cubic metres of concrete and tens of thousands of tonnes of quarry materials have gone into the construction of the first 3200-tonne bridge over the rail line and 60,000 tonne supporting wall.
The 26,000 vehicles that travel on this vital east-west corridor in Melbourne’s south-east are now experiencing a smoother and safer journey and no longer have to wait at boom gates, especially during busy peak periods. The upgrade creates a more efficient transport network and facilitates better access to growing residential communities and local businesses.
Works will now commence on the second bridge structure and new traffic lanes on the south side of Thompsons Road. The project is scheduled for completion by mid-2019.
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