Expressions of Interest open to complete $2.25 billion M80 Ring Road Upgrade

The M80 Ring Road upgrade has reached another important project milestone, with Expressions of Interest now open to complete the remaining sections of the project.

Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said the final upgrades include a four-kilometre section between Sydney Road and Edgars Road and a two kilometre section between Plenty Road and the Greensborough Highway.

“We’re closing in on completing this important upgrade project which will make the M80 Ring Road safer and more efficient while supporting up to 1,350 jobs during construction,” Mr Fletcher said.

The works will include extra lanes in each direction, cutting travel times for drivers.

Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan says entry and exit ramps will be widened to increase capacity and a dedicated exit ramp from Sydney Road to Edgars Road will be built to improve safety and eliminate dangerous and weaving traffic.

“This upgrade project will improve safety and reduce congestion for the 160,000 drivers who use this freeway each day, delivering better journeys for drivers, freight operations and the local community,” Mr Donnellan said.

An electronic freeway management system will also be installed featuring overhead electronic signs which will provide real time information for drivers and help manage traffic flow.

In April 2016, the Australian Government announced it would commit a further $350 million to complete the M80 Ring Road, as part of its $1.5 billion commitment to the $3 billion Victorian Infrastructure Package, if matched by the Victorian Government.

Thanks to this funding, construction on the remaining sections of the M80 Ring Road is expected to begin in late 2018 for completion by late 2021.

The road will remain open during this time, and any necessary lane closures will be confined, as practically as possible, to off-peak time to minimise disruption.

The Australian and Victorian Governments are jointly investing $2.25 billion in the M80 Ring Road Upgrade including these vital final works valued at $290 million.

When complete, the M80 Ring Road upgrade will provide more reliable connections to all major freeways and interstate links including the Hume Highway, Princes and West Gate Freeways and the future Western Distributor.