The traffic lights have been switched on at Greenhills Road to signal another major improvement as part of the Healesville-Kooweerup Road Upgrade.
Turning on the lights last week, the Greenhills Road intersection was reopened to traffic as part of the new intersection, creating an additional safer access point for the estimated 29,000 daily road users that travel on Healesville-Kooweerup Road.
Pakenham MP Emma Vulin said: “We’re working towards making Healesville-Kooweerup Road a safer road for local drivers, reducing the risk of and severity of crashes.”
With a significant number of heavy vehicles travelling in the region, this new set of signals lights will help lessen traffic volumes at the Southeast Boulevard and Livestock Way intersection and generate more safe traffic flow, authorities say.
Major Road Projects Victoria program director Marc Peterson said: “Signalising Greenhills Road has helped traffic make trips into and out of the Pakenham industrial area safer and easier. These traffic lights give heavy vehicles, workers and customers more options to access Healesville-Kooweerup Road, making the area easier to navigate and less-congested for everyone.”
This project works in tandem with the adjacent Pakenham Roads Upgrade to decrease congestion on Healesville-Kooweerup Road and the Princes Freeway, with connecting intersection upgrades and a second bridge under construction.
Over 50,000 tonnes of soil and rock and 3500 tonnes of asphalt was laid on the industrial area end of the bridge as part of the three-week blitz between the Princes Freeway ramps and Southeast Boulevard/Livestock Way last month.
With the centre pier, bridge beams and abutments installed, the works on the Princes Freeway shift to the bridge deck and parapets in the coming months.
Additional works on the Pakenham Roads Upgrade include a current closure of McGregor Road to widen the Gippsland-bound exit ramp and expand the freeway roundabout.
These works are part of a wider investment in improving transport infrastructure in Pakenham. This includes the removal of the level crossings at Racecourse Road, McGregor Road and Main Street, upgrades to the Pakenham train station and the development of a new train station at East Pakenham.
