By mid-2026, major works on the Racecourse Road Upgrade will be complete, with 2 lanes open in both directions all the way between Koo Wee Rup and Henry Street, Pakenham, upgraded intersections at Bald Hill Road and Campbell Street, and a network of new paths creating pedestrian and bicycle connections for the community. To reach this milestone, there will be disruptions to the way you travel throughout summer and autumn.
Bald Hill Road/Racecourse Road intersection
We are preparing to open the upgraded Bald Hill Road/Racecourse Road intersection on Friday 20 February. This includes re-opening east-west travel along Bald Hill Road between Pakenham and Nar Nar Goon.
The intersection will open with signals operating under the following conditions:
- All right turns will be signal controlled
- Signal controlled left turns from Bald Hill Road to Racecourse Road, and from Racecourse Road to Bald Hill Road
- Temporary northbound lane closure on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road
- Temporary right hand turn lane closure on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road
- U-turns will only be permitted at the following locations:
- Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road at the Bald Hill Road intersection travelling north to travel Koo Wee Rup bound on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road, for vehicles up to 5.2m long
- Racecourse Road at the Bald Hill Road intersection travelling south to travel north on Racecourse Road, for vehicles up to 8.8m long
- the signalised u-turn bay south of Peet Street to travel north on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road for vehicles up to 8.8m long.
U-turns to travel east/west on Bald Hill Road will be available from mid 2026.
The temporary right turn from Peet Street to Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road will be closed from 20 February. To travel north on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road from Peet Street, turn left and drive to the signalised U-turn bay before the Princes Freeway.
There will also be night time lane closures and other disruptions as we continue construction to finish major works by mid-2026.
What’s been happening
Works have been progressing well since the Christmas and New Year break. Working night and day, our focus has been on opening the upgraded Bald Hill Road – Racecourse Road intersection in late February. We’re on track to open new southbound lanes between Worklocker and West Gippsland Auto Electrical on 20 February.
The new intersection will reduce congestions and make it easier for the local community to travel between Pakenham and Nar Nar Goon.
New southbound lanes on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road between West Gippsland Auto Electrical and Peet Street were opened in early December, reopening direct left in and left out access to businesses in this area.
In late December, we reopened Racecourse Road at Pakenham Creek. While the road was closed we replaced the old culverts under the road with larger ones as part of flood protection works that will reduce the risk and impact of flooding for many local residents and the surrounding road network. Read more about the Pakenham Creek culverts.
Along with the new lanes, we’ve opened 1 kilometre of new shared use path, from Henry Street to Peet Street, connecting to 10km of paths extending towards Koo Wee Rup.
Current works
We’re continuing to build the new southbound lanes of Racecourse Road between Henry Street and Worklocker, including upgrading the intersection at Railway Avenue.
In March we’ll begin building the centre median and traffic islands at Peet Street. There will be changes to how you access Peet Street while we complete these works.
Changes to the way you travel
As we work to bring you new lanes and paths by mid-2026, there will be disruptions to travel in Pakenham. We’ll also use new lanes to temporarily maintain traffic in both directions, so keep an eye out for changed traffic conditions.
