What's been happening

Since our last update we’ve:

• laid new asphalt along the Gippsland-bound lanes of the Princes Freeway as part of building the new freeway lanes
• started installing the barriers along the sides of the new Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road bridge over the Princes Freeway
• started laying asphalt for the new McGregor Road Gippsland bound entry ramp
• installed drainage behind the barriers on McGregor Road
• placed asphalt on the new McGregor Road northbound lanes
• continued with underground service relocations to make space for new lanes.

Upcoming works

Over the coming months we’ll:

• start to install new overhead sign gantries along the Princes Freeway
• finish installing barriers along the sides of the new Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road bridge
• continue upgrading the intersection of McGregor Road, Henry Road and Webster Way, including upgrades to the slip lane and building a new bus bay on Henry Road
• install new and upgraded traffic and public lighting around the intersection
• start transforming the northern freeway roundabout on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road to a new traffic light intersection.

From mid-May you’ll start to see long-term traffic changes along Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road and McGregor Road as we move into our next stage of works. Detours will be in place, visit the Project update page to find out more.

Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road

First, we’ll start upgrading the western side of the freeway interchange.

To do this, we’ll work at night between 12 and 17 May to switch traffic onto new temporary lanes through the old roundabout and open the new McGregor Road Gippsland bound entry ramp to traffic.

This will allow our crews to start upgrading the roundabouts to the new traffic light intersection intersections without closing Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road.

Once traffic has been moved to the new lanes, there will be some long-term access changes on the northern Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road freeway intersection, with the following arrangements in place until October:

• traffic exiting the Princes Freeway using the Gippsland bound exit ramp will not be able to turn right to travel south towards Koo Wee Rup
• traffic travelling north on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road will not be able to turn right to enter the Princes Freeway using the Gippsland bound freeway entry ramp.

Drivers travelling to Gippsland can enter the freeway by U-turning at the Bald Hill Road roundabout or via Southeast Boulevard and the new McGregor Road freeway entry ramp.

Drivers travelling Gippsland bound exiting the freeway to travel south to Koo Wee Rup can exit at McGregor Road or use the Bald Hill Road roundabout to turn southbound.

McGregor Road

In mid-May, we’ll begin our next stage of works to upgrade the intersection of McGregor Road, Henry Road and Webster Way.

From 7am to 11:59pm Sunday 19 May, we’ll close the intersection of McGregor Road, Henry Road and Webster Way to install underground services and prepare the area for long-term works. Detours will be in place via Heritage, Livingstone, and Park boulevards.

From 19 May until early July we’ll close Henry Road between McGregor Road and Heritage Boulevard to upgrade that section of the intersection.

Detours will be in place via Cardinia Road, or Livingstone Boulevard and Henry Lawson Drive. Drivers heading towards Webster Way can detour via Livingstone Boulevard, McGregor Road, Park Boulevard and Honeyeater Way.

The current traffic conditions on McGregor Road will remain in place, with one lane in each direction between the Princes Freeway and Livingstone Boulevard. While Henry Road is closed, we’ll build the new footpath, build a new bus bay to upgrade the Henry Road bus stop, and upgrade the left-turn slip lane from Henry to McGregor Road.

We’ll also continue to build the new northbound lanes on McGregor Road, between the freeway and Livingstone Boulevard, including installing new streetlights, upgrading traffic lights, and completing asphalting.

Other projects in the area

There is a lot going on to create a more efficient transport network for Pakenham, reducing bottlenecks, improving connectivity and safety for all road users. Visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au/pakenham to find out more about the projects and disruptions in your area.

Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade asphalting works

The nearby Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade is in its final stages and is on schedule to open all new lanes by the end of July this year.

At various times from May to late June, we’ll close sections of Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road between Greenhills Road and Manks Road to complete the final layer of asphalt on the project.

These works are highly weather dependent, and closure dates and times may change at short notice.

To make sure you’re receiving the latest information, sign up to receive updates from the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade or text HKWR to 0499 073 073 for SMS updates.

Pakenham Level Crossing Removal Project

Pakenham will be level crossing free in May, and new stations at Pakenham and East Pakenham will open in early June.

A construction blitz will take place from mid-May with crews working around the clock to demolish the existing Pakenham Station, remove the boom gates and finish the 2.5 km rail bridge.

As we complete these works buses will replace trains on sections of the Pakenham Line from 9pm, Friday 17 May until early June.

Big Build goes to Yakkerboo

The Pakenham Roads Upgrade team celebrated Mr. Yakkerboo’s 48th birthday this year with the local community at the Yakkerboo Festival last month.

Together with other members of the Big Build team, including the Pakenham Level Crossing Removals Project team, we spoke with over 500 locals about all the progress to date across the Pakenham area.

We’re excited about the upcoming new stations at Pakenham and East Pakenham, and the recent milestones across both the Pakenham Roads Upgrade and the Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade to have drivers travelling on new lanes through upgraded roundabouts.

Who is Mr Yakkerboo?