THE HON. GREG HUNT MP
Federal Member for Flinders
Minister for Health and Aged Care
MEDIA RELEASE
11th March 2022
After almost three years of federal funding being available and countless community campaigns, plans to upgrade Forest Drive’s intersection with Nepean Highway has finally received a green light.
Unfortunately for Mount Martha locals, Vicroads has advised construction will begin in early 2023, almost 18 months behind previous schedules.
The Morrison Government has committed a combined total of over $20 million in funding to the State Government to deliver the Forest Drive and Nepean Highway intersections, with funding available as early as 2019.
The approved upgrades to the Forest Drive and Nepean Highway intersection will include:
- Traffic lights across Nepean Highway,
- A new signalised pedestrian crossing,
- New concrete footpaths connecting the intersections bus stops,
- Widening the intersection with extra lanes,
- New continuous bicycle lanes on the Nepean Highway,
- New asphalt at bus bays and vehicle pull over areas,
- New advanced warning signs on the approach to the intersection, and
- Realignment of the driveway opposite Forest Drive.
The full $10 million cost of the upgrade has been funded by the Morrison Government through the Urban Congestion Fund.
Recently, the Federal Member for Flinders, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP called upon the Victorian Government to finally utilise the Federal funding available to deliver various state road projects, after labelling the Victorian Government’s constant delays and excuses to deliver these life saving upgrades as a negligent disgrace.
Minister Hunt said that he was pleased to see the Victorian Government finally getting on with the project but demanded more immediate action.
“I’m delighted to see that proposed upgrades to Forest Drive’s intersection with Nepean Highway will finally be going ahead after years of Federal funding sitting on the table,” Minister Hunt said.
“These upgrades will undoubtedly save lives as motorists and pedestrians try to navigate this busy intersection. I implore the Victorian Government to deliver this project and those like it including Uralla Road and Jetty Road sooner, rather than later.”
“The Federal funding is there, the Federal funding has been there for nearly three years. It’s a shame that only after calling out the Victorian Government do we see some semblance of progress.”
“The funds are ready, VicRoads is ready, My message to the Victorian Government is simple: let’s get on with it.”
At the time of this release, the Morrison Government has committed $75 million to the Jetty Road project in Rosebud and over $20 million combined to upgrade Forest Drive and Uralla Road’s intersections with Nepean Highway.
The Victorian Government has failed on their previous commitment to start construction of the Forest Drive and Uralla Road upgrades through 2021 while Jetty Road hangs in the balance with no construction date set.
Residents can review information on the project at https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/planning-and-projects/melbourne-road-projects/forest-drive-and-nepean-highway-intersection-upgrade
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