Transforming road and rail travel

More than $23 billion is being invested into major road and rail projects in Melbourne’s south east as part of Victoria’s Big Build.

These projects will reduce congestion, cut travel time and provide more trains more often on every train line near you.

The Metro Tunnel, Melbourne Airport Rail and Suburban Rail Loop will transform travel, making getting to work, school and health services quicker and easier.

Find out more details about projects happening in Melbourne's south east.

Suburban Rail Loop East to better connect our suburbs

Construction starts on Suburban Rail Loop from Cheltenham to Box Hill (SRL East) next year, bringing huge benefits to communities and commuters while creating up to 8,000 local jobs during construction.

SRL East will connect major hospitals, universities and employment hubs in Melbourne’s south east.

The turn-up-and-go service connects existing train lines and means you’ll save about 40 minutes on a one-way trip at the busiest times compared with existing public transport options.

It’s good news for drivers too as transport modelling shows Suburban Rail Loop will ease congestion. Daily car trips will be reduced by more than 600,000 once the loop reaches Melbourne Airport.

Suburban Rail Loop will be built in stages, with SRL East complete by 2035. Planning is underway on SRL North from Box Hill to Melbourne Airport and SRL West from the airport to Werribee.

Project highlights:

• Trains every 6 minutes at peak times, increasing to about every 2 minutes over time.
• 26km of rail tunnels between Cheltenham and Box Hill.
• 32,500 motorists expected to switch to trains each day.
• 3 to 4 minutes travel time between each of the 6 stations.
• 22 minutes travel time from Cheltenham to Box Hill.
• 71,000 passengers expected to use SRL East each day.
• 40 minute time saving on a one-way trip on public transport at peak times.

Twenty level crossings going on the Frankston Line by 2025

As work continues on the removal of 5 level crossings on the Frankston Line, more good news is on the way.

Rail bridges will be built over Parkers Road in Parkdale and Warrigal Road in Mentone by 2025, removing 2 more level crossings, building a new Parkdale Station and creating about 2 MCGs worth of open space.

Progress is also being made at Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach, where the line is being lowered into trenches and 3 new stations are being built ready for reopening in late 2021.

In total, 13 new stations are being built along the Frankston Line.

These level crossings will be removed by the end of 2021:

• Bondi Road, Bonbeach
• Argyle Road, Chelsea
• Chelsea Road, Chelsea
• Swanpool Avenue, Chelsea
• Edithvale Road, Edithvale

These level crossings will be removed in 2023:

• Glen Huntly Road, Glen Huntly
• Neerim Road, Glen Huntly

These level crossings will be removed in 2025:

• Parkers Road, Parkdale
• Warrigal Road, Mentone

Watch a video about how the boom gates are being removed at Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach.

Cranbourne and Pakenham lines to be level crossing free by 2025

The Cranbourne and Pakenham lines will be completely free of level crossings by 2025, paving the way for safer local travel and more trains to run more often.

Station Street and Brunt Road in Beaconsfield and Webb Street in Narre Warren were recently added to our hit list along with the construction of a new Narre Warren Station.

We’re also making the Pakenham Line 2km longer, with new stations at Pakenham and Pakenham East fast-tracked as part of a $15 billion investment.

We’re making progress on the Cranbourne Line Upgrade, which will allow trains to run every 10 minutes when the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025.

Four level crossings will be removed, 8km of track added, and rail bridges constructed at Abbotts Road and Eumemmerring Creek to make room for trains to pass.

These level crossings will be removed in 2022:

• Hallam Road, Hallam
• Clyde Road, Berwick

These level crossings will be removed in 2023/24:

• Greens Road, Dandenong South
• Main Street, Pakenham
• McGregor Road, Pakenham
• Racecourse Road, Pakenham

These level crossings will be removed in 2025:

• Brunt Road, Beaconsfield
• Station Street, Beaconsfield
• Camms Road, Cranbourne
• Webster Street, Dandenong
• Webb Street, Narre Warren

Transforming transport in the south east

Whether you’re making a short trip to buy groceries, or travelling to the other side of the state to visit loved ones, these transport upgrades will get you where you need to go safer and sooner.

They make it easier for you to travel by car, but also offer excellent alternatives for public transport or cycling.

There will soon be more train services stopping at every station in the south eastern suburbs, including:

• A direct link from Caulfield Station to Metro Tunnel and Melbourne Airport Rail.
• A direct link from Clayton Station to Suburban Rail Loop.
• 40 minute journey to Melbourne Airport from Caulfield Station every 10 minutes
• 60 minute journey to Melbourne Airport from Clayton Station every 10 mins

Highlights

• Suburban Rail Loop SRL East - Cheltenham to Box Hill will take 71,000 cars off the road every day.
• Suburban Rail Loop - Caulfield to CBD in 10 minutes.
• Suburban Rail Loop - Clayton to CBD in 28 minutes.
• Level Crossing Removal Project - 45 level crossings removed on the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Frankston lines.
• Level Crossing Removal Project - a new station at Pakenham East.
• Cranbourne Line Upgrade - trains every 10 minutes to Cranbourne.
• Metro Tunnel Project - trains every 2 minutes at Caulfield Station during peak times for 121,000 more passengers at peak times each week.

Sign up for email updates to keep up to date with projects happening in the south east.

Monash Freeway Upgrade speeds up

As part of stage 2 of the Monash Freeway Upgrade we’re changing the way Mulgrave locals access the Monash Freeway and EastLink.

When works are complete in 2022, the existing Jacksons Road entry ramp will connect only to EastLink via a separated road. We’re reinstating the Police Road outbound entry ramp, which will connect locals to the Monash Freeway.

These changes will improve safety for the 8,000 drivers using these connections each day, by eliminating the dangerous traffic weaving that occurs on the Monash Freeway between the Jacksons Road entry ramp and EastLink exit ramp.

We will also install traffic lights at the new Police Road ramp to control the flow onto the Monash Freeway.

The upgrade will benefit 470,000 drivers every day.

In peak times between Pakenham and Malvern, we will save you up to:

• 9 minutes in the morning
• 13 minutes in the evening

Watch a video about the new Monash Freeway connections.

Melbourne Airport Rail takes off

Did you know that once Melbourne Airport Rail is built, people in Melbourne’s south east will have a direct connection to the airport?

Simply jump on any Cranbourne/Pakenham Line train and travel through the new Metro Tunnel and on to Melbourne Airport via Sunshine without changing trains.

You’ll save time and money compared with driving, and you won’t need to pay for parking.

Trains will leave the airport every 10 minutes and take about 85 minutes to and from Cranbourne and 100 minutes to and from Pakenham.

Subscribe to our updates as planning continues on the project, which is due to open in 2029.

Airport journey time in minutes

_{Subject to Commonwealth and State government statutory planning and environmental approvals, including airport approvals.}

Construction a step closer on major road upgrades

Huge improvements are coming to some of our busiest and most congested roads across the south east.

We’re upgrading Hall Road between McCormicks Road and Cranbourne-Frankston Road, as well as 2 Western Port Highway roundabouts, to improve safety and traffic flow.

Building on the improvements we recently made to Thompsons and Hallam roads, upgrades to Hall Road and Western Port Highway will ease congestion and improve traffic flow, making journeys safer and more reliable.

Upgrading the intersections along South Road between Nepean Highway and Warrigal Road will reduce congestion and improve travel time Construction on the South Road Upgrade is scheduled to start later this year and will improve safety and reduce congestion for the 40,000 people who use South Road every day.

Read more about our major road upgrades across the south east.

Mordialloc Freeway nears completion

The Mordialloc Freeway, with the new 9km link between the Mornington Peninsula Freeway and Dingley Bypass, is due to open by the end of spring.

We hit a milestone in July, with the installation of the last of the 252 beams that make up the freeway’s 6 bridges.

We’re also planting a million plants and trees along the freeway, and putting in the last of our recycled plastic noise walls.

Project highlights:

• Travel times will be reduced by up to 10 minutes during peak times.
• 13,000 trucks will be removed from local roads each day.
• Noise walls made from 75% recycled plastic will save 570 tonnes of plastic going to landfill.
• 97% recycled materials in the road base, including brick, glass and sand.
• Asphalt made from 44% recycled material - the equivalent of 15 million glass bottles.

Upcoming disruptions

We’re working hard to build a better transport network. While we work, road and public transport disruptions could affect your travel.

Metro Tunnel and Cranbourne Line Upgrade works continue in your area

Buses will replace trains on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in November, December and January as we prepare for the Metro Tunnel and the Cranbourne Line Upgrade. The Frankston Line will also be disrupted in December as part of Metro Tunnel works.

Summer of works on the Monash and Princes freeways

Works continue on the Monash Freeway Upgrade over coming months with day and night lane closures, ramp closures and freeway closures on the Monash and Princes freeways and surrounding roads as we complete major asphalt works.

Major works continue in your area with Major Road Projects Victoria

There will be closures of the Mornington Peninsula Freeway and local roads as we prepare to open the Mordialloc Freeway in time for summer.

Major works will begin on the South Road Upgrade with lane closures as required at the Nepean Highway intersection.

We’ll also close lanes and reduce speeds as required for upgrade works on Pound Road West, Narre Warren North Road, Golf Links Road, Lathams Road, Hallam North Road and Heatherton Road.

West Gate Tunnel Project adds extra lanes to the freeway

Williamstown Road and Millers Road under the West Gate Freeway will continue to be intermittently closed overnight as we add 2 extra freeway lanes in each direction. Ramps and lanes on the West Gate Freeway will also be closed at times.