By Casey Neill
Monash Freeway users have some relief in sight.
Premier and Mulgrave MP Daniel Andrews visited Dandenong North on Monday 7 May to announce that more than 30 kilometres of new lanes would start opening that night – two months ahead of schedule.
Mr Andrews said an extra lane in each direction between EastLink and the South Gippsland Freeway would open Monday night, taking the total number of lanes from four to five.
Over the following two nights, he said the new lanes between the South Gippsland Freeway and Clyde Road would be opened.
The new lanes will make room on the freeway for an extra 2000 vehicles per hour.
Mr Andrews said the new state-of-the-art freeway management system would be switched on within months.
Digital overhead lane signs will help to automatically and remotely manage traffic flow onto the freeway, he said, to make it run smoother and provide more reliable travel.
“We’re not wasting a day – new lanes open this week, the freeway management system will be switched on mid- year, then early works will begin on the next stage of the Monash Freeway Upgrade,” Mr Andrews said.
The project has included about 200,000 tonnes of asphalt and more than 2000 permanent concrete barriers.
Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said delays for motorists during construction had been frustrating.
