Overview

We’re undertaking planning for an upgrade to the Watson Street Interchange at the Hume Freeway in Wallan.

Options being investigated include:

• creating a full diamond interchange at Watson Street and the Hume Freeway, by adding south facing ramps (an outbound exit ramp and an inbound entry ramp)
• upgrades to Watson Street to improve capacity and safety.

As part of our planning, we’re investigating solutions to:

• provide direct access off the freeway for northbound travelling vehicles and on the freeway for southbound travelling vehicles
• cater for population growth and increased vehicle movements
• reduce congestion and improve travel times
• improve road safety
• improve accessibility for residents living in Wallan East to the Wallan township.

View a downloadable version of the Project overview map (PDF, 187.5 KB)

Planning and development

We’re currently undertaking planning and development work to inform an upgrade to the Watson Street Interchange. This includes traffic modelling, environmental and site investigations, planning and social studies.

The results of these investigations will help to give us a complete picture of the area, allow us to understand environmental and social impacts, develop project options, and confirm scope and costs of different options.

Our planning will build on the previous development work completed by the Department of Transport and Planning (VicRoads). We will be reviewing the technical studies and designs previously developed and we will be using these to inform our planning. We’re also considering any recent changes in the area, including population growth.

Technical investigations

To help inform our planning, we’ll complete roadside technical investigations. At times during these investigations, we may need to implement traffic control measures, including temporary lane closures, stop/slow traffic and reduced speeds. We’ll keep traffic disruption to a minimum and avoid busy periods.

Community and business feedback

From 17 July to 6 August 2023, we asked for community and business feedback to help inform our planning for upgrades to the Watson Street Interchange. Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback.

Feedback has helped us understand how people currently use the interchange and Watson Street as well as their views on safety, traffic flow and what we should consider in our planning. We also heard how businesses operate and use the road network.

Feedback highlighted strong support for an upgrade to the interchange to reduce travel times, boost road capacity and make it easier and safer to walk and cycle in the area. 98% of community respondents support an upgrade of the Watson Street Interchange and improvements to Watson Street.

For further information on what you’ve said view the Community and Business Consultation Summary (PDF, 490.9 KB).

Timeline

We’re currently developing a business case, which will be completed in early 2024.

The business case is a comprehensive document that will provide a detailed examination of the interchange upgrade to help inform government decision-making.

For more information on the upgrade to the Watson Street Interchange, view our project overview fact sheet below: