Another milestone has been reached on the M80 Ring Road upgrade in Victoria, with Expressions of Interest (EOIs) opened to complete the remaining sections of the project.
The remaining sections of the upgrade include a four-kilometre section between Sydney Road and Edgars Road as well as a two-kilometre section between Plenty Road and Greensborough Highway.
“We’re closing in on completing this important upgrade project which will make the M80 Ring Road safer and more efficient while supporting up to 1,350 jobs during construction,” Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said.
Extra lanes will be added in each direction, which will reduce travel times for all motorists passing through the route.
According to Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan, entry and exit ramps are going to be widened in order to increase capacity. A dedicated exit ramp is also in the works from Sydney Road to Edgars Road to help improve safety and eliminate dangerous and weaving traffic.
“This upgrade project will improve safety and reduce congestion for the 160,000 drivers who use this freeway each day, delivering better journeys for drivers, freight operations and the local community,” Mr Donnellan said.
To help manage traffic flow, an electronic freeway management system is going to be installed and it will feature overhead electronic signs that will provide real time information for drivers.
The M80 Ring Road project is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments, with a total investment of $2.25 billion from both parties. This final package of works are valued at approximately $290 million.
Construction is set to commence in late 2018 on the remaining section of the M80 Ring Road, with completion expected by late 2021.
Once the upgrade on the M80 Ring Road is completed, it will provide more reliable connections to major freeways as well as interstate links – including the Hume Highway, Princes and West Gate Freeways and the future Western Distributor.
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Source: Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities, Premier of Victoria