Extra lanes are now open on Chandler Highway, reducing congestion on one of Melbourne's worst bottlenecks.
Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan announced today that an extra two lanes are now open, with the remaining two to open over the coming weeks as the final touches are made on the bridge.
Work continues behind safety barriers on the new bridge, which will have extended noise walls along the western side and noise-reducing asphalt to minimise noise created by tyres.
The $110 million Andrews Labor Government project has replaced the existing two-lane heritage bridge with a purpose built six-lane bridge – boosting traffic flow between Melbourne's inner-east, south and north.
More than 44,000 motorists travel over the Chandler Highway bridge every day, with that number expected to increase with the proposed development of a neighbouring residential site.
The new bridge was opened to traffic in October 2018, with one lane operating each way while vital work started to rejuvenate the existing 128-year-old heritage bridge to transform it into a shared pedestrian and cycling path.
Opened in 1891 as part of the Outer Circle Railway Line, the old Chandler Highway bridge will also re-open in March to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross while we carry out rehabilitation work to modernise it.
In addition to the new crossing, upgraded paths along the Yarra River are expected to be complete by the mid-2019, with landscaping work to be completed later in the year.
As noted by Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
"The opening of the new lanes will reduce congestion for motorists and is another step towards unblocking this notorious traffic bottleneck."
"The final two lanes will open to traffic in the coming weeks, tripling the capacity of the heritage bridge, and getting people home sooner."
As stated by Member for Northcote Kat Theophanous
"The opening of these new lanes will make a big difference for local drivers, who have had to put up with delays and traffic jams around this area for too long."
As stated by Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines
"I thank locals for their patience as we finish this project and remove this horrible choke-point on our road network."
