Victoria’s Transport Minister, Peter Batchelor, has officially turned the sod for works to commence on the Dandenong Southern Bypass. This marks the start of major work on the $85 million bypass which is considered to be a significant part of the overall EastLink project. Greater Dandenong Council lobbied hard for the Dandenong Bypass within the Dingley Freeway reservation and was very pleased when the Government included it in the EastLink project as a toll free new four lane arterial road from Perry road to South Gippsland Highway.
Mayor Peter Brown said he was happy the project was now becoming a reality.
“Council has been working closely with the State Government, Southern and Eastern Integrated Transport Authority (SEITA), Connect East and Thiess John Holland in an advocacy role to ensure that the design of the Dandenong Bypass project provides maximum benefits to the region through appropriate east west connections and minimised local impacts,” Councillor Brown said. “We are now a step closer to the completion of the bypass that will bring so many benefits to Greater Dandenong including an economy and jobs boost. As Dandenong South is currently one of Victoria’s major industrial areas and will continue to expand due to the growing Dandenong South industrial area. Council has said for many years that the Dandenong Southern Bypass, and its connection with the EastLink Project, is essential to prevent traffic gridlock in the Dandenong area.”
Investigations showed that the construction of the Dandenong Bypass would deliver a range of traffic management, environmental, planning and related benefits to the region, including a reduction in through traffic in Lonsdale Street by at least 30 per cent, completion of an effective arterial ring road network around central Dandenong, and improved traffic management in central Dandenong in support of Revitalising Central Dandenong and Melbourne 2030 objectives.
