The Pakenham Roads Upgrade, south east of Melbourne, is ahead of schedule with works on the Princes Freeway and McGregor Road set for completion in the upcoming months.
Major works on the Princes Freeway will finish six months ahead of schedule while major works on the McGregor Road Upgrade north of the freeway are complete.
In the meantime, works to upgrade the McGregor Road inbound freeway entry ramp are continuing and are scheduled for completion in early 2025.
The project is building seven kilometres of upgraded roads across three stages of works.
This includes a new Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road bridge over the Princes Freeway to double capacity of traffic to and from the freeway, as well as Pakenham's manufacturing hub and town centre.
Several key intersections will also be upgraded to ease congestion.
The $415.7 million Pakenham Roads Upgrade is being fully funded by the Australian Government and is part of a wider investment in improving transport infrastructure in Pakenham, together with the likes of the Suburban Roads Upgrade - South Eastern Roads and Northern Roads project.
This wider investment also includes the removal of the level crossings at Racecourse Road, McGregor Road and Main Street, upgrades to the Pakenham train station, the development of a new train station at East Pakenham, and upgrades to Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road between Southeast Boulevard and Livestock Way and Manks Road.
Construction of the Pakenham Roads Upgrade has created about 860 full-time-equivalent jobs, with a further 1,540 indirect jobs forecasted across Victoria over the life of the upgrade.
Work crews have amassed approximately half a million work hours across the project since construction began in 2022, Another 31,000 hours were completed by cadets, apprentices and trainees, cementing the Australian and Victorian governments' commitment to investing in future talent.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
"The Pakenham Roads Upgrade will have a massive impact on Pakenham's booming population, improving congestion and road safety.
"This $415 million project is already changing Pakenham's transportation network, improving the movement of motorists and freight across Melbourne's south-east.
"As well as the Pakenham Roads Upgrade, the Australian Government has also invested significantly in the Suburban Roads Upgrade - South Eastern Roads and Northern Roads project to get the south east moving smoothly and safely."
Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson:
"The early completion of these packages builds on the recently completed Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road Upgrade and Pakenham Level Crossing Removal Project to overhaul Pakenham's road and rail infrastructure.
"The Pakenham Roads Upgrade is making a significant impact on how everyone gets around Pakenham.
"Doubling capacity with an additional road bridge over the Princes Freeway, new signalised intersections as well as the McGregor Road freeway diamond interchange and road duplication - it's a game changer for getting around town.
"With $1 billion worth of transport investment in Pakenham's road and rail network, the Australian and Victorian governments are hard at work changing the way everyone moves throughout the south east.
"With a strong focus on social procurement, the Pakenham Roads Upgrade has engaged with 15 Aboriginal-owned businesses and nine social enterprises, ensuring the Victorian Government's commitment to support social and sustainable enterprises."
Quotes attributable to Senator for Victoria Jess Walsh:
"The Australian and Victorian governments are getting on with the job of delivering quality infrastructure that the local residents of Melbourne's south-east need and deserve.
"It's terrific to see work progressing so well on the Pakenham Roads Upgrade, which will make it safer and more efficient for commuters travelling throughout Melbourne."
