Melton Highway and Leakes Road intersection upgrade
Project Timeline
- Early works and preconstruction service relocation
- Commenced mid-2023, continuing until mid-2024
- Greater Western Water fresh water pumping station relocation and vegetation removal works
- commenced early-2024
- Project construction work
- commencing late-2024
- Project end of works
- mid-2025
View a larger version of the map
Project update - September 2024
Safer speed limit on Leakes Road
We’re introducing a safer speed limit of 80km/h on Leakes Road north of the Melton Highway intersection.
The new 80km/h speed limit will become legally enforceable from Monday 16 September 2024 and will apply to traffic moving in both directions for 1km north of the intersection.
The new speed limit will help reduce the likelihood and severity of road crashes and improve safety for everyone.
View a larger version of the map
What to expect
To ensure the speed change is clearly visible to drivers, we’ve installed eleven new 80km/h speed limit signs along Leakes Road to the north of the Melton Highway intersection.
The signs will be uncovered when the speed change becomes active on Monday 16 September.
We’ll also install temporary electronic message signs to help increase driver awareness of the speed change.
Throughout the duration of the intersection upgrade project, work-zone speed limits will continue to apply to keep crews and road users safe during construction.
Background
This speed change will bring the speed limit on the northern part of Leakes Road into alignment with the existing 80km/h speed limit on all other approaches to the Melton Highway and Leakes Road intersection.
Safer speeds provide drivers with more time to react in dangerous situations and reduces the distance it takes for a vehicle to come to a stop.
Everyone has a role to play in road safety and this includes driving to the conditions, expecting the unexpected and avoiding distractions.
Drivers should be aware of the changed road conditions and drive with care in the area.
Water relocation works
Before we can commence construction on the intersection we need to relocate the Greater Western Water fresh water pumping station and pressure release station.
The pumping station will be moved 450m west of its current location. These complex works are expected to be complete by the end of 2024, weather permitting.
To relocate the water pumping station we need to identify all the underground services around the intersection including services that are connected to the pumping station – this is called service proving.
Contractors will undertake service proving work in stages at different locations around the intersection and in the road reserve.
Work to install new underground pipelines and relocate the pumping station will begin after the service proving.
What to expect
During the pumping station relocation works, you can expect:
- Crews will work during the day, Mondays to Fridays. There may be times when we will need to work at night, between 8.30pm and 5.30am, when traffic volumes are at their lowest.
- Ongoing road works reduced speed limit of 60km/h in the work area.
- Occasional temporary reduced speeds of 40km/h during work hours.
- Medium to high levels of noise from equipment and machinery such as generators, excavators and trucks.
- Traffic management will be in place to assist road users and pedestrians. Please follow signage and directions from traffic controllers, as required, to keep you and our workers safe.
Please plan ahead and allow 10 minutes of extra travel time when moving through the area.
We will advise the community in advance of any significant works related to the water pumping station relocation.
What we're doing
To make it safer and easier to travel through the intersection of Melton Highway and Leakes Road, we’re aligning the intersection to a traditional cross road, adding turning lanes and installing traffic and pedestrian lights.
Works to relocate services commenced in mid-2023 with no impact to neighbouring properties or motorists. Works to relocate the Greater Western Water fresh water pumping station will have some impacts to motorists. There will be no disruption to water supply during these works.
We’ll be aligning the current staggered intersection to a traditional cross road with traffic and pedestrian lights.
We will also:
- relocate vital utility services to ensure we can safely work to realign the intersection
- widen the intersection to allow for turning lanes and improved lane configuration
- resurface the area and apply new line marking
- install new street lighting to create a safer road environment at night
- build new kerbing and improve drainage
- remove and trim some vegetation to improve sight lines.
You can get a better idea of how the intersection will look when it’s finished in these 3D before/after images.
1. Melton Highway and Leakes Road intersection top-down aerial view
2. Melton Highway and Leakes Road intersection aerial view, looking towards the north-west
Contact us
If you’d like more information you can email us at [email protected] or call 13 11 70.