Frankston Bypass

The Frankston Bypass is a proposed route of the missing section of the .

Calls for the Bypass

The construction of the EastLink tollway and its interchange with the northern section of the Mornington Peninsula Freeway has led to speculation of possible congestion on the Frankston Freeway, especially at the southern terminus at McMahons Road (Moorooduc Highway). This possible congestion would be alleviated by the construction of the Frankston Bypass. Vicroads however does not anticipate such congestion on the Frankston Freeway will actually occur. Federal MP Bruce Billson however, believes otherwise, and is raising this issue in the local press. As these roads are strictly a state responsibility, it remains to be seen if Mr. Billson will propose any solution or funding from a Federal level.

The Victorian minister for Transport, Peter Batchelor has stated that simply because the freeway's projected path appears on a map (referring to the route shown in the Melway), that this does not mean that the road is intended to, or will ever actually be built. City of Frankston councillors however, along with Mr. Billson, are pushing for the bypass to be built in any case.

Review

2006

May 2006: It was reported that City of Frankston councillors were in discussions with EastLink, with a view to constructing part of the Frankston Bypass as a toll road. This road would run from Eastlink near the terminus with the Frankston Freeway, through to Cranbourne Road. The state transport minister was reported to be interested in the proposal.

October 2006: Peter Batchelor has stated that he and his department are in talks with the Frankston City Council and the Mornington Peninusula Shire about options for traffic flowing through Frankston from EastLink to the Mornington Peninsula. He announced that bridges would be constructed as part of the EastLink project at the Frankston Bypass site in Carrum Downs to prepare for the bypass construction.

2007

July 2007: The State Government announced in March 2007 that it would commence an Environmental Effects Statement (EES) to consider the route for a possible Frankston Bypass. The EES will consider the route from the existing Frankston Freeway / EastLink Tollway interchange at Carrum Downs (under construction) to the existing Mornington Peninsula Freeway at Mount Martha - a distance of around 25 km. The proposed route is as shown in the Melways, however, other alternative routes will be assessed as part of the EES process.

December 2007: Three route options have been decided on for further investigation into the proposed Frankston Bypass, they are as follows:

Frankston Bypass Proposals

"Option 1 - Frankston Bypass as a Freeway in the Reserved Corridor"

This option involves a freeway standard road along the existing road reserve for a FrankstonBypass from Carrum Downs to Mt Martha. This land was reserved for a possible bypass in the1960s and is shown in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula planning schemes. Around 60per cent of the reserved corridor land is owned by the State Government.SEITA will also investigate the impacts of constructing an arterial standard road in this bypassreserve.

"Option 2 - Frankston Bypass in the Reserved Corridor to Mt Eliza then upgrading Moorooduc Highway to a Freeway to Mt Martha"

An alternative option is to build a Bypass along the existing reserve to Mt Eliza and then upgrade the Moorooduc Highway to a freeway standard road. The Bypass reserve would connect to the Moorooduc Highway near Sages Road. This option would involve the construction of serviceroads and interchanges to provide access to properties along the Moorooduc Highway.

""'Option 3 – Frankston Bypass in the Reserved Corridor to Mt Eliza thenexisting Moorooduc Highway to Mt Martha""'

This option involves constructing a freeway standard road along the Bypass reserve to Mt Eliza.This freeway would also connect to the existing Moorooduc Highway at Sages Road. However,in this option, the Moorooduc Highway would remain an arterial standard road.

2008

April 2008: SEITA has decided that the preferred option for a Frankston Bypass is a high standard, continuous, duplicated road in the existing road reserve from Carrum Downs to Mt. Martha (Option 1).

Traffic on the Moorooduc Highway through Frankston is expected to increase from 45,000 vehicles per day to around 60,000 vehicles per day in 2031....it would take 75 minutes to travel between the southern end of Eastlink and the Mornington Peninsula Freeway at Mt Martha during peak periods in 2031. A high standard, continuous, duplicated road from the southern end of Eastlink to the Mornington Peninsula Freeway at Mt Martha would reduce travel time in 2031 to around 20 minutes.

These projected traffic conditions would arise, even with planned upgrades to roads such as the widening of Western Port Highway. 84% of people who provided feedback during Phase 1 supported a bypass.

The Frankston Bypass will be a 25km freeway standard road with two lanes in each direction with a speed limit of 100km/h. A full grade separated junction at EastLink and Frankston Freeway and full diamond grade separated interchanges at Dandenong-Frankston Road, Cranbourne Road, Golf Links Road, Frankston-Flinders Road, Bungower Road and Old Moorooduc Road / Mornington Peninsula Freeway. Interchanges at Skye Road and Mornington-Tyabb Road will have half diamond grade separated with northbound entry, southbound exit ramps.

Estimated cost between $500 million to $750 million.

SEITA

The Southern and Eastern Integrated Transport Authority (SEITA) was established in 2003 to manage the EastLink Project on behalf of the Victorian Government.

SEITA managed the selection of the private sector bids and now oversees the State's ongoing interest in this landmark Project.

Exits and intersections

External links

* http://www.seita.com.au/frankstonbypass/index.html