Melbourne’s southeast is set for smoother journeys from this week, with new traffic light intersections on both sides of the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road interchange at the Princes Freeway now open to traffic - completing a busy spring campaign of works on stage 1 of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade.
Drivers can look forward to a faster and less congested commute with the traffic lights replacing the former roundabouts at the interchange, improving traffic flow and reducing queuing.
New lanes are in place for people travelling directly to the Melbourne CBD and Gippsland, with dedicated turning lanes linking into each of the widened ramps at 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. Together with the recently completed Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade, there are now two lanes in each direction all the way from Peet Street in Pakenham to Manks Road in Koo Wee Rup.
As we near the completion of major works on the first stage of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade 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, with major weekend and overnight closures of the freeway throughout November and December.
The project’s spring campaign included works on a new walking and cycling path on the new bridge over the freeway connecting with the new path on the neighbouring Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade project and supporting more people to walk, run or ride their bikes on the network.
The Pakenham Roads Upgrade is one of a number of major infrastructure projects that is 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, 2 new train stations at Pakenham and upgrades to Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road.
Symal is delivering the first stage of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade (Princes Freeway Interchanges Upgrade), in partnership with Major Road Projects Victoria.
Major works on the first stage of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the finishing touches including the top layers of asphalt are currently being put on the recently completed new north and southbound lanes on McGregor Road and upgraded intersection at Henry Road and Webster Way.
Work has started to widen the city-bound Princes Freeway entry ramp, which is expected to be completed in March 2025.
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.
Locals should continue to plan ahead while works are underway. To keep updated, visit our Pakenham Roads Upgrade page.