Preferred option for future development of Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road
Planning study
VicRoads has completed a planning study to identify a preferred option for the future development of Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road between the Pakenham Bypass and the South Gippsland Highway, including a bypass of Koo Wee Rup.
The planning process is now in the statutory planning phase to seek Government approval to the preferred option. Once this planning phase is completed, the development of the road will occur in stages over time, subject to future funding. The first stage of works will be a bypass of Koo Wee Rup.
Please check the regional Victoria road projects section for more information about the Koo Wee Rup Bypass.
Community consultation
After completing studies to identify issues and constraints along the corridor, concept options for the route were developed and put on public display in September 2007 to seek community feedback.
The feedback received from the community assisted VicRoads to further develop the options. Detailed investigations were undertaken to assess the potential impacts and benefits. Based on the outcomes of this work, VicRoads has selected a preferred option for the future development of the route.
VicRoads preferred option
Initial development
The first stage of the initial development of the route involves a bypass of Koo Wee Rup. Later works will involve the duplication of the road between the Pakenham Bypass and Manks Road.
Longer-term development
The planning study has also investigated options for the longer-term development of the route to cater for ongoing traffic growth in the corridor. The preferred option allows for the ultimate conversion of the route to freeway standard.
This proposal includes a new link to the Pakenham Bypass, the conversion of roundabouts to interchanges and the construction of an interchange with the South Gippsland Highway.
The link at the northern end of the route would involve a new interchange on the Pakenham Bypass west of McGregor Road and an interchange at the future western extension of Greenhills Road.
VicRoads is currently preparing a report outlining the past investigation of options and providing an assessment of the likely environmental effects of the preferred option. The report will be considered by an Advisory Committee, appointed by the Minister for Planning.
As part of this advisory committee process, the report will be exhibited for public comment. This will provide an opportunity for the community to make any submissions on the proposal to the Advisory Committee. The timing of the exhibition will be confirmed.
For further details on the advisory committee process, please visit the Department of Planning and Community Development Website.