6 May 2026
We’re completing the M80 Ring Road, delivering new lanes through to Plenty Road and a seamless connection to the North East Link tunnels – taking 19,000 cars and trucks a day off Greensborough Road and giving local roads back to local people.
Works are well underway to build the landscaped bridges at Watsonia Road and Elder Street.
These new bridges will improve local connections to Watsonia Station and provide a green gateway to Watsonia shops.
Once completed, the bridges will keep local traffic at street level and move through traffic to the lowered express lanes, reducing congestion and making it easier and safer to travel about the area.
The wider walking and cycling paths on the bridges will mean safer trips with better access that connects to more than 10 kilometres of new and upgraded paths being delivered as part of M80 Ring Road Completion.
Greensborough Highway will continue to provide toll-free local access and is being rebuilt to join the new bridges for smoother journeys. The lanes will be for local trips between Greensborough, Watsonia, and Rosanna.
As we continue building the M80 Ring Road, the Watsonia Road landscaped bridge will keep traffic moving during Elder Street landscaped bridge construction and major excavation for the lowered express lanes to the North East Link tunnels.
Access to Elder Street will change during this period and will be maintained via temporary arrangements.
How we're building the new landscaped bridges and the express lanes to the North East Link tunnels
To keep traffic moving and maintain connectivity in Watsonia, construction is happening in carefully planned stages.
Stage 1: Watsonia Road landscaped bridge works underway
In August 2024, the Watsonia Road intersection with Greensborough Highway was realigned. Earlier in the year the commuter car park at Watsonia Station was relocated to Frensham Reserve, which provided space for traffic lanes to move closer to the Watsonia shops in the former car park area.
This was the first step toward building the Watsonia Road landscaped bridge with works continuing behind barriers. Over the following 18 months, construction activities included installing underground foundations, placing end and middle supports, setting concrete beams, and preparing the bridge deck.
Stage 2: Watsonia Station temporary access changes
In October 2025, temporary access changes were introduced at Watsonia Station car park. Entry to the car park became one-way from Greensborough Highway northbound with a new signalised intersection installed for vehicles exiting north or south.
The bus stops were relocated into a streamlined loop to support service reliability and reduce congestion. This created space for the Elder Street landscaped bridge foundation works to begin.
Stage 3: Elder Street landscaped bridge works underway
From May 2026, Greensborough Highway northbound lanes will shift into the former commuter car park at Watsonia Station to become the first permanent lanes for the upgraded arterial Greensborough Highway. This involves building new roadway, including pavement, drainage, traffic signals, barriers and line marking. The new traffic lanes will seamlessly connect with temporary access changes already in place at Watsonia Station. These changes will maintain traffic flow as works ramp up to complete the Elder Street landscaped bridge.
Stage 4: Watsonia Road landscaped bridge taking traffic
From mid-2026, Greensborough Highway southbound lanes will move onto the new roadway built on top of the retaining walls near Dennett Street and Service Road. These lanes will cross the Watsonia Road landscaped bridge before continuing south along Greensborough Highway, onto Watsonia Road and northbound on Greensborough Highway. A signalised U-turn north of Elder Street will temporarily replace right turns from Greensborough Highway.
The pedestrian crossing at the Elder Street intersection will be temporarily closed during bridge works, and the signalised intersection near the Frensham Reserve commuter car park will become the main Greensborough Highway crossing in the area. These changes clear the central corridor ready to remove the existing Greensborough Highway ahead of major excavation.
Stage 5: Elder Street landscaped bridge opens
In late 2026, the completed Elder Street landscaped bridge will connect to the new northbound and southbound lanes. This change will reinstate right turns to Elder Street and allow the signalised U-turn to be removed while major excavation progresses in the central corridor.
The pedestrian crossing at the Elder Street intersection will be restored with new and improved walking and cycling paths. The upgraded Greensborough Highway in Watsonia will be substantially completed, although some temporary arrangements will remain.
Stage 6: Watsonia Road and Elder Street landscaped bridge finishing works
Following stage 5, we’ll make further changes to the way motorists use the Watsonia Road landscaped bridge. In 2027, we’ll finalise the Watsonia Road intersection to make way for the connection to the new Greensborough Road boulevard and service road south of Watsonia Road.
Walking and cycling path construction, road surfacing and line marking, lighting and signage, planting and irrigation, barriers and rails, and pavement and signal works on both landscaped bridges will continue until project completion. Some works may be done overnight and require temporary pedestrian and traffic changes to keep people moving.
Stage 7: North East Link lowered express lanes underway
From late 2026, construction will focus on building the lowered express lanes to the North East Link tunnels. This includes completing major excavation in the central corridor, installing strong retaining walls and ground anchors for stability, and building new roadway beneath the landscaped bridges. Construction of the new Watsonia Station car park will continue alongside these works until project completion.
Greensborough Highway traffic disruptions
As works progress in stages, there will be traffic disruptions on Greensborough Highway in Watsonia. To keep traffic moving during the day, we're planning for these to happen overnight whenever possible.
During 2026, Greensborough Highway will experience nightly single and double lane closures in both northbound and southbound directions.
In May 2026, over several nights, northbound traffic will temporarily use southbound lanes under traffic management. Following this, Elder Street will be fully closed at Greensborough Highway for three weeks. A major weekend blitz on Greensborough Highway, with delays expected, will then restore left in/left out access to Elder Street using a temporary signalised U-turn.
Please allow extra time for your journey and plan ahead.
Elder Street signalised U-turn
Building the Elder Street landscaped bridge will require temporary traffic arrangements to maintain local access. In mid 2026, right turns from Greensborough Highway onto Elder Street will be replaced by a temporary signalised U-turn. Here’s how it will work:
Approach Elder Street
Travelling north on Greensborough Road, look for signage directing to the U-turn bay north of Elder Street.
Enter the U-turn Bay
Move into the designated turn lane as directed and enter the queue.
Complete the U-turn
When safe and the signals allow, make the U-turn to head south on Greensborough Highway.
Turn into Elder Street
Continue south and make a left turn into Elder Street.
For right turns from Elder Street onto Greensborough Highway, first turn left and then make a U-turn at the Watsonia Road intersection to head north and continue your journey.
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