THE speed limit along a large stretch of Peninsula Link will continue to remain at a reduced 80kph until at least February.
The reduced limit coincides with the peninsula’s busy summer period that sees hundreds of thousands of visitors using the main arterial into the peninsula.
A statement from Service Stream Limited, responsible for the management of Peninsula Link, seen by The News said “While the resurfacing works carried out to date have largely been completed, the final layer of specialised asphalt has not yet been applied”.
“This type of asphalt requires both warmer temperatures and dry conditions to set correctly and achieve maximum durability.
“The weather in November has not been consistently warm or dry enough to undertake this work within an appropriate timeframe.
“To avoid disruption to the peninsula over the summer school holiday period, the project will not return until February 2026.
“Until we can place the final surface, there are a number of bumps in the surface on the approach and departure from bridge decks, this coupled with temporary linemarking, requires a temporary speed limit of 80km/hr which will remain in place until crews return to place the final surface, and you may notice a rough finish to the road.
“ Once the final asphalt layer is complete, the road surface should be even and smooth, and the speed limit will be returned to 100km/hr.”
The long-running roadworks have attracted the ire of residents with motorists directed off Peninsula Link and onto surrounding roads. The roadworks have created traffic chaos and raised questions why Peninsula Link is being resurfaced, despite being in good condition, while other state government roads languish (Parents frustrated over roadworks gridlock, The News 4/11/25).
Peninsula Link was built under a 25-year public private partnership (PPP) contract, also known as a DBFOM (design, build, finance, operate, maintain), where the government makes fixed quarterly payments to freeway consortium Southern Way regardless of actual traffic volume (Peninsula Link finally up and running, The News 22/1/13).
Southern Way appointed Service Stream Limited to operate and maintain Peninsula Link under another 25-year agreement.
Mornington MP Chris Crewther has expressed his frustration, writing on social media “I’m as frustrated as many of you about the ongoing Peninsula Link mess. It’s been one of the top issues of contact to my office”.
“I’ve been told – but can’t verify as I’m told nothing by the state Labor government – that the road under Stage 1 wasn’t fully sealed by the extended 15 November deadline (despite only needing around one more day’s work), and that is why the 80kph signs are still up.”
First published in the Mornington News – 16 December 2025
