Works begin on $81m O’Herns Road Interchange in Melbourne’s North

Melbourne’s north will soon benefit from improved traffic conditions and safer travels with works now underway on the $81 million O’Herns Road interchange upgrade in Epping.

The project will be completed in two stages with Stage One involving an upgrade to the intersection at O’Herns Road and High Street. Works on the first stage will include replacing the existing roundabout with traffic lights and adding a raised platform at the intersection which will improve safety.

Stage Two of the project will deliver an improved access to Hume Freeway as well as the surrounding northern suburbs. To achieve this, works will include widening O’Herns Roads and the construction of a new interchange.

“This project will transform the way residents move across Melbourne’s north via a new interchange with direct access to the Hume Freeway from O’Herns Road, additional lanes on O’Herns Road between the freeway and Redding Rise, and traffic lights at the O’Herns Road and High Street intersection,” Federal minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said.

Stage One of the project is expected to be completed by mid-2018, with overall project completion set for late 2019.

The benefits to upgrading the O’Herns Road interchange include reducing congestion at the new intersection and better access to the Hume Freeway for the northern community, including those in Epping and Epping North.

“We’re reducing traffic queues and easing congestion for the more than 30,000 drivers who rely on the O’Herns Road and High Street intersection every day,” said Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan.

According to Bronwyn Halfpenny, Victorian Member for Thomaston, the upgrade will make it easier for thousands of drivers to travel throughout Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

“The interchange will feature new on and off ramps, providing a direct route to the Melbourne CBD, and improved connections to suburbs including Epping, Wollert and Craigieburn,” said Mr Halfpenny.

The $81 million project is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments under the $3 billion Victorian Infrastructure Package.

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