The new Fowler Road bridge has opened to traffic in Dandenong South, providing a safer way for traffic to travel through the area, and a more direct way for many businesses to access South Gippsland Highway when the project is completed.
It follows the permanent closure of Progress Street at the level crossing and boom gate removal last weekend.
With vehicles now able to use the new Fowler Road connection to access the temporary Hallam Valley Road detour, crews will start works to build the new signalised intersection at Fowler Road and South Gippsland Highway.
To safely enable these works, the intersection will remain closed to traffic until Monday 21 July. Access for businesses on Fowler Road, Progress Street and Nathan Road will be maintained via the Hallam Valley Road detour.
During these works, South Gippsland Highway will be closed to traffic in both directions at the Fowler Road intersection from Saturday 5 July to Monday 21 July, with detours via the Dandenong Bypass and Frankston-Dandenong Road or South Gippsland Freeway.
In response to community feedback, additional safety features were incorporated into the project designs, including indented parking on Fowler Road to increase the driveable width, reducing the speed limit to 50km/h, new street lighting to improve visibility, and building a new pedestrian footpath on the south side of Fowler Road.
Getting rid of the dangerous Progress Street level crossing will boost safety by removing the risk of any further incidents, particularly between passenger trains and heavy vehicles.
Progress Street is one of 22 sets of boom gates going on the Pakenham Line, which will be level crossing free in 2025, boosting safety and easing congestion.
Passengers on the Pakenham Line will also have access to five new state-of-the-art underground stations when the Metro Tunnel opens this year.
