On Saturday 1 December 2007 the Melbourne bound carriageway of the Pakenham Bypass was opened to traffic with the Warrigal bound carriageway opening on Sunday 2 December 2007. The Bypass provides an important link between Gippsland and Melbourne and extends the Princes Freeway for 20 km from Beaconsfield to Nar Nar Goon, bypassing the townships of Pakenham and Officer.
Start Date: January 2005
Completion Date: December 2007
Cost: $242 million jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments
Contractors:
Bypass Section One: Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd
Bypass Section Two: FRH Group Pty Ltd
Bypass Section Three: FRH Group Pty Ltd
Cardinia Road upgrade: Akron Roads Pty Ltd
View a map of the Pakenham Bypass [JPEG]
Progress
Features
Benefits
Managing the environment
Involving the community
More Information
The Pakenham Bypass runs south of the existing Princes Highway route and provides full freeway conditions with two lanes each way between Beaconsfield and Nar Nar Goon.
The Bypass was constructed in three sections. Related widening works and intersection improvements on Cardinia Road, Officer were completed in advance of the freeway works and opened in mid-2005.
Section 1 - Princes Freeway, Beaconsfield to west of Cardinia Road
Significant features:
- an interchange at Beaconsfield
- bridges over Cardinia Creek and Gum Scrub Creek.
- an overpass of Officer South Road.
- extension of Lecky Road to Stephens Road
Significant features:
interchanges at Cardinia Road, Mc Gregor Road and Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road with access in all directions
- a bridge over Toomuc Creek.
Significant features:
- an overpass of Bald Hill Road
- a bridge over Deep Creek and the Gippsland railway line.
- an interchange at the Nar Nar Goon end of the Bypass, which allows traffic movements to and from Melbourne and provides a connection to both the Princes Highway and Nar Nar Goon Road.
- a local road connection from Bessie Creek Road to the interchange.
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- less congestion and delays on the Princes Highway, particularly during peak periods
- improved safety for all road users
- improved access to local facilities
- more efficient road access to Melbourne for businesses in south-east Victoria
- better and safer amenity for communities in Pakenham and Officer with the removal of trucks and through traffic
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VicRoads staff and contractors have worked closely with relevant agencies to ensure that the environmental aspects of the project are managed effectively.
An Environment Effects Statement (EES) was completed to ensure that all environmental issues were identified and managed appropriately. A Project Environment Protection Strategy (PEPS) was developed with relevant stakeholders, and provided a framework for environmental protection during and after construction.
Three nationally listed threatened species were identified within the Pakenham Bypass reservation: the Matted Flax-Lily flower; the Dwarf Galaxias fish and the Growling Grass Frog. Specific Environmental Management Plans were implemented to protect these species and their habitats.
Minimising potential construction impacts on local waterways is an important project objective and VicRoads worked closely with relevant authorities to develop mitigation strategies.
VicRoads has implemented best practice stormwater treatment, known as Water Sensitive Urban Design. Stormwater from the freeway runs through a series of treatment processes to remove the pollutants, providing immediate and long-term benefits to our waterways.
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Community consultation is important and has provided opportunities for residents to take part in the development of the project.
A Community Consultation Committee (CCC) was formed prior to construction involving key stakeholders to provide VicRoads with a community perspective on issues related to the Pakenham Bypass. The CCC was independently chaired.
Community noticeboards at the Officer and Nar Nar Goon Post Offices provided regular project information including construction updates, maps, photographs and contact details for VicRoads and its contractors.
For more information about the Pakenham Bypass please:
- Call the Project Office on (03) 9703 5999
- Write to the Project Director, VicRoads South Eastern Projects, PO Box 2214, Fountain Gate, Victoria 3805
- E-mail the project team at southeasternprojects@roads.vic.gov.au
- Visit the project office at 40 Belgrave-Hallam Road, Hallam
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