Dandenong's new road opening this September

Dandenong's new road underpass connecting Princes Highway-Lonsdale Street to Cheltenham and Hammond roads is opening on Tuesday 22 September.

The new road underpass will reduce congestion and deliver a more reliable road network for Dandenong with drivers able to travel straight from Hammond and Cheltenham roads in the west to a brand new signalised intersection on Princes Highway–Lonsdale Street in the east.

With a clearance of 5.4m, the new underpass provides a direct route for trucks and high vehicles, reducing their need to travel on local streets and through Dandenong’s CBD.

Dandenong’s new road underpass will open on Tuesday 22 September – 2 years ahead of schedule.

Over the coming weeks we’ll complete works to connect the new underpass to Princes Highway Lonsdale Street and Cheltenham and Hammond roads, asphalting, line marking in the underpass and traffic signal installation on Princes Highway-Lonsdale Street.

Last year we closed Webster Street at the level crossing and opened the new walking and cycling path along the Webster Street in Woodcock Reserve, linking with the Dandenong Creek Trail and connecting locals to Dandenong's CBD.

New artwork is being installed along the walking and cycling path under the rail bridge in spring.

Project benefits

• Improves safety, reduces congestion and creates a more reliable road network for Dandenong
• Reroutes traffic away from Dandenong’s CBD
• Keeps trucks off Webster Street
• Prepares the area for future development
• Boom gates gone at Webster Street saving travel time for 10,000 vehicles

Road network changes in Dandenong

When the new road underpass opens on Tuesday 22 September, there will be new ways to get around and changes to how you travel in Dandenong.

New Cheltenham Road underpass

When the new road underpass opens, it will become an extension of Cheltenham Road.

You’ll be able to drive from Cheltenham and Hammond roads in the west, under the rail line to a signalised intersection at Princes Highway-Lonsdale Street in the east.

Webster Street east becomes Dow Court

With Webster Street closed at the rail line and the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines level crossing free, the section of Webster Street east of the rail line will be renamed Dow Court in honour of Pat Dow.

Part of Cheltenham Road becomes Merle Parade

When the new underpass opens, Cheltenham Road between Foster Street and Hammond Road will be left-out only into the new road.

This section of Cheltenham Road will be named Merle Parade, honouring Merle Mitchell AM.

To read more about changes to Dandenong’s road network and the new road names read the Webster Street travel changes fact sheet.

Major works in August and September

Over the coming weeks we’ll complete works at the eastern and western ends of the new underpass to connect it to Princes Highway-Lonsdale Street and Cheltenham and Hammond roads, we'll install traffic signals on Princes Highway- Lonsdale Street.

To allow us to safely complete works, Cheltenham Road will be closed between Hammond Road and 1 Cheltenham Road from Monday 24 August to Tuesday 22 September.

Detours will be in place during these works, read the works notice to find out more.

Hitting the home stretch in Dandenong

We started the Big Dig in November last year and in June we finished excavating the new underpass.

In July, we finished pouring concrete for the base slabs of the new road, with the largest individual concrete pour totalling 1,100 cubic metres – enough to fill approximately 11 buses.

We completed the underpass walls in August.

To prevent the underpass flooding, we've installed a drainage system to pump water out and into a detention basin, naturally filtering the water before it flows into Dandenong Creek.

We’re putting the finishing touches on the new road, including asphalting and line marking, and we're installing lighting and traffic signals.

We’re also painting the walls of the underpass using 5 unique colours to reflect the vibrant character and diversity of Dandenong.

Construction in numbers

Since construction started we’ve:

• excavated more than 13 Olympic swimming pools worth of soil
• poured more than 11,000 cubic metres of concrete
• completed 403 piles to support the walls of the underpass and new rail bridge planted more than 15,000 native trees, shrubs and grasses, with 15,000 more to be planted
• constructed 9 base slabs to form the foundation of the underpass
• installed more than 3,000 tonnes of steel for the underpass walls, base slabs and piles

Behind the barriers

Visit the Webster Street image gallery to check out what's happening behind the barriers.

Works are on, shops are open

Dandenong’s open for business – Cheltenham and Hammond roads traders are open for business.

Shop local and support your local businesses on Cheltenham and Hammond roads.

Thank you for supporting local businesses in Dandenong while we prepare to open the new road underpass.

Health and fitness

• ReMAP Performance
• Iron Pigs Strength Club

Services and Automotive

• Southside Carwash and Detailing
• Sky Thai Massage
• Sunrise Trailer Parts Dandenong
• Grand Autoworks & Tyre
• 4WD Suspension Store
• Raw Performance Imports
• Ram Cheapest Cars
• AAS Auto
• Hertz Car Rental
• Avis Car Rental
• Kian Auto Services
• Mega Trim
• ABW Trade
• Indesign Plastics + Displays
• Hyun Engines
• KM Motor Traders
• Wonder Motors
• J & V Elite Motors
• Mayani Automotive & Car Detailing
• Happy Car Sales
• Tyre Barn Dandenong
• Southeast Auto & Tyre
• Mike's Dyno Tuning

Food and drink

• Silk Road afanti catering

Project timeline

2018

• Project announced

2020 to late 2023

• Site investigations, traffic surveys and planning works

November 2023

• Concept designs released
• Community consultation
• Site investigations continue

Late 2024

• Final designs released
• Early works

2025

• Construction starts
• Walking and cycling path under the rail line opens
• Boom gates gone for good
• Webster Street closed at the level crossing

2026

• Construction
• New road underpass open Tuesday 22 September
• Landscaping

2027

• Project complete

* Timeline subject to change.