Projects

Forest Drive and Nepean Highway Intersection Upgrade

To improve safety and access for all road users, we’ve installed new traffic lights at the Forest Drive and Nepean Highway intersection in Mount Martha.

Project status:

Underway

Update - April 2025

The new traffic lights at the intersection are operating and access to and from Nepean Highway at Forest Drive and Hopetoun Avenue is open.

In the coming weeks, crews will complete public lighting and landscaping works at the intersection.

While we work with the local power authority to connect power to public lighting, please drive to conditions and obey signs at the intersection.

We expect the upgrade will be completed in April 2025. 

We thank the community for their patience while we complete this important intersection upgrade.

What to expect during works

Crews will work on site between 7am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and some Saturdays between 7am to 2.30pm.
Single lane closures on sections on Nepean Highway where crews are working.
Reduced speeds on Nepean Highway to keep crews and road users safe.
Bus stops at the intersection will reopen when the upgrade is completed.

What we’ve done

As part of this upgrade, we have:

installed traffic lights with a signalised pedestrian crossing on Nepean Highway
constructed concrete footpaths connecting the intersection to nearby bus stops
widened the intersection to improve access for large vehicles and provided an extra northbound lane on Nepean Highway
realigned Forest Drive to provide a dedicated right turn lane and left turn lane into Nepean Highway
added green surfacing on existing bike lanes near the intersection, to improve safety and the riding experience for bike riders
installed painted road markings on Nepean Highway to separate the northbound bike lane from traffic
upgraded the two existing bus stops near the intersection on Nepean Highway, with new bus bays, shelters and platforms
constructed a new vehicle pick-up and drop-off area near the southbound bus stop on Nepean Highway
installed flashing advance warning signs on approach to the intersection, to increase awareness of the upcoming traffic lights
installed safety barriers on Nepean Highway, Forest Drive and Hopetoun Avenue to prevent run-off crashes
realigned the driveway opposite Forest Drive and providing new access via Range Road
reconstructed and resurfaced sections of Nepean Highway, Forest Drive and Hopetoun Avenue at the intersection.

Benefits

We’ve upgraded this intersection to:

provide safer and easier access for drivers entering and exiting Forest Drive and Nepean Highway.
improve safety for vulnerable road users including bike riders, pedestrians and public transport users.
improve traffic flow on Forest Drive.
help meet the traffic demands in the area now and into the future population in the area.

Environmental care

As part of the upgrade, we needed to remove trees and shrubs around the intersection to improve visibility and safety and provide enough room to construct the new intersection.

We worked closely with designers and environmental teams to retain as many existing trees and shrubs as possible, while balancing this with the critical need to improve safety for the community and road users.

As part of the upgrade, we're planting 160 native trees and over 9,000 shrubs and tussocks near the intersection when the upgrade is completed.

Some of the trees we removed will be mulched and used for landscaping and animal habitat around the intersection.

Artist impressions

Forest Drive and Nepean Highway intersection upgrade - overhead view

Image description - Artist impression of the Forest Drive and Nepean Highway intersection upgrade from an overhead view, facing north.

Forest Drive and Nepean Highway intersection upgrade – ground-level view

Image description - Artist impression of the Forest Drive and Nepean Highway intersection upgrade from a ground-level view. A traffic light with a green signal is in the foreground and cars are moving through the intersection.

Detailed intersection map

Image of map showing the overarching view of the Forest Drive and Nepean Highway upgrades

View a larger version of the map

Image description - A map showing a close-up view of the planned intersection upgrade at Nepean Highway and Forest Drive. The map shows the key features of the upgrade, including the traffic lights, pedestrian crossing, footpaths, vehicle drop off area, and new lane configuration.

Project background

Nepean Highway is a busy arterial road, located close to the eastern shores of Port Phillip Bay. Approximately 18,000 vehicles travel along this highway in Mount Martha every day.

Forest Drive is one of the key intersections along Nepean Highway providing access into Mount Martha.

This intersection is located at the top of a hill and creates limited visibility for drivers on Forest Drive to see vehicles driving uphill towards the intersection from both sides of Nepean Highway.

Limited visibility and the constant flow of traffic make it difficult for drivers to find safe gaps to enter into or exit from Forest Drive onto Nepean Highway.

In the 10 years leading up to July 2023, 10 crashes were reported at the Nepean Highway and Forest Drive intersection and five crashes caused serious injury. Tragically, one person lost their life.

This upgrade has been funded by the Australian Government under the Infrastructure Investment Program.