THE connection between the Nepean Highway and McLeod Road in Carrum is now open.
Works to connect the roads have taken place amid level crossing removal works at Eel Race Road in Carrum and Mascot Avenue in Bonbeach. Those two crossings were permanently closed on 2 February.
Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny said that “directly connecting the area’s two arterial roads, McLeod Road and the Nepean Highway, will significantly reduce congestion and let traffic flow more freely through the connection between Nepean Highway, Frankston Freeway, and EastLink.”
“The new intersection, completely free of boom gates, also includes dedicated lanes for traffic turning right into McLeod Road from Station Street, improving travel and reducing congestion on smaller local roads.”
Commuters have been faced with traffic headaches while work was undertaken on the road project. Drivers were forced to take detours via Bondi, Bonbeach, Edithvale and Seaford roads while waiting for the connection to open.
Trains began running from Carrum St on the new overhead rail bridge when the station reopened on 17 February.
“The new direct connection of McLeod Road to the Nepean Highway as well as the Karrum Karrum Bridge will make travel times so much better and safer for the Carrum community,” Ms Kilkenny said.
“With the boom gates at Station Street gone, we’ll have almost twice as much time to get traffic through the lights during peak times.”
From Tuesday 25 February to mid March, the Nepean Highway at Carrum will be reduced to two lanes.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone New – 19 February 2020