Around-the-clock works have started as part of the next stage of the Northern Highway Intersection Upgrade.
Crews have begun building the western side of Watson Street, between Northern Highway/High Street and Wellington Street, while also continuing to build the new pavement and additional lanes on the western side of the Northern Highway.
Watson Street will be closed in both directions for three weeks between Wellington Street and High Street/Northern Highway from 7pm on 28 June to build the new pavement on the western section of the upgraded intersection.
Detours will be in place via Queen or Duke streets and Wellington Street and drivers should allow up to 10 minutes extra travel time. Crews will work during the day and night to reopen the road sooner and minimise impacts on the community and local businesses.
Works during this time will include excavation, utility works, installing new drainage and building new pavement.
Access to homes, businesses and emergency services will be maintained throughout the works. There will be on-street parking available in the area and access to the car park on High Street will be via the temporary entry on Northern Highway/High Street.
The closure has been scheduled during the school holidays to minimise impacts on the community and local businesses, which will remain open during the works.
Once complete, the Northern Highway Intersection Upgrade will improve traffic flow and safety by adding lanes on the Northern Highway at the intersection, building a second right-turn lane from Watson Street heading north, upgrading signage, street lighting, underground utilities and drainage and improving walking and cycling connections. The upgrade is expected to be finished by mid-2027.
The upgrade complements the Watson Street Interchange Upgrade, which will complete the diamond interchange at the intersection of Watson Street and the Hume Freeway and provide better connections to and from Wallan and the freeway. The addition of the two new ramps will provide another route into and out of Wallan in addition to the interchange at the Hume Freeway/Northern Highway.
The upgrades are being jointly delivered by the Australian and Victorian governments and will benefit more than 30,000 daily journeys in and around the town.
Combined, the two projects are expected to create over 1,100 jobs during construction, providing a direct economic boost to the region.
For more information on the project, visit the Northern Highway Intersection Upgrade webpage.