Contracts awarded for the delivery of two major road projects in VIC

Two major road upgrades in Victoria are set to get underway following the award of construction contracts as part of the $3 billion package that will deliver suburban and regional road upgrades across the state. 

Symal Group has been awarded the contract to undertake works on the Narre Warren North Road Upgrade and Negri Contractors engaged to deliver the South Road Upgrade. 

Both projects are jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments on a 50:50 basis, each contributing $22.5 million for the South Road Upgrade and $31 million for the Narre Warren North Road Upgrade. 

“These projects are some of many critical infrastructure projects to receive funding from the Morrison Government as part of its record $110 billion, 10-year infrastructure investment pipeline, which is helping to drive Australia’s economic recovery,” Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher MP said. 

“These upgrades will make driving easier and safer for thousands of Victorians who use these roads every single day,” Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said. 

The Narre Warren North Road Upgrade and South Road Upgrade are expected to create more than 600 jobs during construction – including 165 direct and 441 indirect jobs. 

The South Road Upgrade will be upgrading five key intersections and the project will also include: 

• Construction of a new citybound right turn lane on South Road to improve access to Nepean Highway 

• Modifying the South Road, Jasper Road and Taylor Street intersection to improve traffic flow and safety 

• Installation of a signalised pedestrian crossing at Tucker Road 

• New right turn lane from South Road to East Boundary Road, with improvements to the left turn slip lanes and pedestrian crossings at the intersection 

• Installation of traffic lights at the Bignell Road intersection, including new pedestrian crossings to improve traffic flow and safety 

• Upgrades to the existing bike path on the Nepean Highway between South Road and Cummins Road, including upgrading fencing in key locations to improve visibility and safety 

South Road Upgrade alignment (source: Major Road Projects Victoria)

On the other hand, the Narre Warren North Road Upgrade will include: 

• Building an extra lane in each direction between Fox Road and Belgrave-Hallam Road 

• Upgrading the Heatherton Road and Ernst Wanke Road intersections 

• Improving safety by adding new traffic lights to the Memorial Drive intersection and installing safety barriers 

• Modifications to Brundrett Road and Crawley Road intersections to improve safety 

• Upgrading existing and building new waking and cycling paths to improve connectivity 

Narre Warren North Upgrade alignment (source: Major Road Projects Victoria)

These projects are being delivered as part of a significant program of upgrades to suburban roads in Melbourne. 

Major construction activities are due to begin in December of this year.

Once completed, motorists travelling along these two routes will experience safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. 

Currently, works are underway and progressing well on the Lathams Road as well as Hallam North Road projects while upgrades are also underway at Fitzsimmons Lane, Childs Road and Craigieburn Road as part of the broader Suburban Roads Upgrade – South Eastern Roads and Northern Roads project. This program of works is anticipated to support over 4,500 direct jobs across Victoria and about 11,000 indirect jobs. 

These works build on the successful delivery of the Western Roads Upgrade, which delivered smoother, safer and more reliable journeys in the west. 

In addition, Pound Road West and Frankston Dandenong Bridge upgrades are in the early stages of construction. 

Victoria’s Big Build will continue delivering transformative projects that will turn busy and congested roads into “efficient transport corridors” and the south east road upgrade projects are vital to these improvements. 

Source: Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts; Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Major Road Projects Victoria (1, 2); Roads and Infrastructure Australia