Montrose Intersection Upgrade
Project timeline
- Complete works along north side of Mount Dandenong Road-Leith Road and most works on west side of Mount Dandenong Tourist Road.
- Mid-October 2024.
- Temporary roundabout removed, interim traffic lights activated (some movements restricted until the permanent lights are activated) and works undertaken on south side of Mount Dandenong Road-Leith Road.
- Mid-October 2024 – late 2024.
- Works on east side of Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, including within intersection, to build new road pavement and install drainage. Traffic shifted to the western side of Mount Dandenong Tourist Road.
- Early December 2024 – early 2025.
- Final miscellaneous works, final road surface seal and line marking applied across whole project area. Permanent traffic lights activated and in use during this period of works.
- Early 2025.
- Project completion
- Early 2025.
Project update - October 2024
We expect our current works on the northern lanes of the intersection, including installation of infrastructure for interim traffic lights, to be completed by 13 October.
Following these works, the next stage of construction activities will include:
- Building new road pavement on the westbound lanes of Mount Dandenong Road and Leith Road.
- Digging trenches and installing new drainage.
- Service relocation works including power relocation from overhead to underground and relocation of water main.
- Street lighting works.
- Footpath, kerb, driveway and bus stop construction.
- Landscaping and bluestone paving works.
When to expect us
Our crew will change traffic management around the works site overnight between 5pm Sunday 13 October and 6am Monday 14 October. This change will move both directions of traffic on to the northern side of Leith Road and Mount Dandenong Road to enable us to commence work on the southern side.
The next stage of works will commence from Monday 14 October. Crews will generally be working between 7am and 5pm Monday to Friday and occasionally on weekends between 7am and 1pm. Please note that dates and times are subject to change depending on weather conditions and contractor availability.
There may be periods when we need to work at night to minimise disruption to the road network. Generally, night works will be undertaken between 6pm and 6am, Sundays to Thursdays, when traffic volumes are at their lowest. We’ll keep impacted businesses and residents informed if night works are required.
What to expect
The temporary roundabout will be removed, and interim traffic signals will be switched on to control traffic flow.
While the interim traffic signals are in operation, some traffic movements will be restricted until the permanent lights are activated at the completion of the project. These restricted movements are:
- No U-turns will be permitted at the intersection.
- No right turn will be permitted from Leith Road into Montrose Road.
- Left turn only from Montrose Road into Leith Road. No right turn or through movement will be permitted from Montrose Road.
View a larger version of the traffic flow map
When the project is completed, all movements (including U-turns) will be permitted with traffic controlled by the permanent traffic lights.
Detour routes while interim traffic lights are operating
Detours will be in operation for restricted movements. Please follow the signed detours to access your destination safely:
- While the restrictions are in place, access to Mount Dandenong Tourist Road is available via Cambridge Road, Swansea Road and Leith Road to turn left into Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, or right turn from Mt Dandenong Road.
- There will be no changes to how Swansea Road (known locally as ‘Little’ Swansea Road) and Walker Road operate.
- All motorists should be mindful of the changed traffic arrangements and allow additional time when travelling through the area.
Interim traffic lights are required to complete the next stage of works safely and efficiently. However, interim lights cannot incorporate all movements at the intersection, so we used traffic modelling to determine the highest priority movements for the best traffic flow while we complete our work.
Following the activation of the interim traffic lights, we will conduct a road safety audit and any modifications will be made immediately to address identified safety concerns.
We will continue to monitor traffic movements and local network impacts and adjust traffic management, where feasible, to improve traffic flow.
School impacts
We will work closely with the school and the school community to ensure the changes are understood and support schools to share information with their community.
Traffic management changes
- All traffic on Leith Road and Mount Dandenong Road will be shifted to the northern side between Stradbroke Road and Trevallyn Close. Both directions of traffic will share the northern side of the road, assisted by traffic devices and safety measures.
- All traffic on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road will continue to travel on the east side of the road between the Montrose intersection and Devenish Avenue. Shops and parking will remain accessible as per current access arrangements.
- Stradbroke Road will remain left out only onto Mount Dandenong Road.
- Access to properties and businesses on the westbound lanes of Leith Road and Mount Dandenong Road will be maintained under a local traffic arrangement. We will contact these properties before works begin to discuss access requirements.
- The Montrose Road signalised pedestrian crossing will be permanently switched on. All existing pedestrian crossings will remain in use.
We have made alterations to the traffic management where possible to minimise delays and ensure the area continues to be accessible for the community and traders.
Please plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
View a larger version of the upgrade map
To keep the community and our workers safe you may notice:
- Lane closures on Mount Dandenong Road, Leith Road, Montrose Road and Mount Dandenong Tourist Road.
- The speed limit will continue to be 40km/h to keep road users and workers safe.
- Traffic controllers and electronic message signs to guide you safely through the area.
- Signage in the area to help pedestrians safely navigate the works. If pedestrian detours are required, access to the Montrose township, public transport, shops and amenities will be maintained.
- An increase in noise, light towers, dust and vibration from construction vehicles. For the safety of road users and workers, reversing beepers are a requirement on all machinery. We’ll monitor the impacts to minimise them as much as possible.
- Driveway access will be maintained for properties unless otherwise agreed with individual property owners/occupiers. If footpath, kerb or driveway works would otherwise make access unsafe, traffic controllers will guide drivers in and out of properties.
Traffic management will remain in place throughout the project for the safety of the community.
Public transport
The new, permanent bus stop in the Leith Road service road for route 679 is now open and in use.
During these works, the following disruptions to bus services will be in place:
- Bus stop 22054 (Swansea Road/Leith Road) towards Ringwood will be closed. Please use the temporary stop outside 18 Leith Road (Telstra substation).
- Bus stop 22056 (Mount Dandenong Tourist Road/Leith Road) towards Ringwood will be closed. Please use the temporary stop outside 18 Leith Road (Telstra substation).
- Bus stop 8937 (Montrose Road/Mt Dandenong Road) towards Croydon will be closed. Please use stop 8938 (Montrose CFA/Mount Dandenong Road) instead.
Any changes to school bus services will be communicated directly to affected schools. For more information on PTV services, please visit the PTV website.
Heavy vehicles
Heavy vehicles that are B-double and above will be permitted to travel through the intersection on Mount Dandenong Road and Leith Road from 14 October 2024 after the interim traffic signals have been switched on. U-turns will not be permitted at the intersection for these heavy vehicles.
Support local businesses
While we complete this important intersection upgrade in Montrose your local traders remain open and they’re keen to welcome you. Pedestrian access and customer parking remain open and accessible to shops along Mount Dandenong Tourist Road and Leith Road.
Please shop local during these works and support local traders. Shop local during works and support local businesses.
We appreciate your patience and understanding while we deliver these important safety upgrades.
Montrose Intersection Upgrade - Traders Guide
What we've done so far
Image description: an aerial photo of the intersection just before the removal of the temporary roundabout and the activation of interim traffic lights.
Construction commenced in March 2024 and is expected to be complete by early 2025.
Between March and August 2024 we have:
- Removed 55 trees around the intersection.
- Built two new bus stops.
- Managed a range of overhead and underground utility services.
- Removed the existing roundabout infrastructure, replaced it with a temporary roundabout on the south-east corner of the intersection and rebuilt road pavement at the site of the original roundabout.
- Created new lanes and dedicated turning lanes, centre median and pedestrian refuges on Montrose Road.
- Removed old road pavement and built new road pavement across the project site, including the Leith Road service road and the eastbound lanes of Leith Road and Mount Dandenong Road.
- Installed foundations and infrastructure for new traffic lights.
- Installed new drainage.
- Undertaken footpath, kerb and driveway works across the project site.
In September, completed works included:
- New angle parking spaces outside the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road shops.
- New exit point outside the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road shops to provide easier access to your local traders while we work.
- Drainage, kerb and concrete works near Montrose IGA.
- Driveway, kerb, footpath and decorative concrete installation on the Leith Road service lane.
- Laying conduits and cables for the upgraded pedestrian crossing on Leith Road.
- Topsoiling and preparation for bluestone paving and landscaping works on Leith Road and Mount Dandenong Tourist Road.
- Power relocation works on Leith and Mount Dandenong Roads. Further power relocation works will be completed in late October.
- Commencement of works for additional permanent street lighting.
- Completion of north side works and majority of the traffic light infrastructure for the interim traffic signals.
Image description: aerial footage of traffic flowing through the intersection just before the removal of the temporary roundabout and the activation of interim traffic lights.
Project scope
The design includes:
Montrose intersection
- New traffic lights and pedestrian crossings, right turn lanes, left turn slip lanes and bicycle waiting boxes at the intersection.
Mount Dandenong Road and Leith Road
- Providing an extra lane in each direction on Mount Dandenong Road from Stradbroke Road to the Montrose intersection, and on Leith Road from the Montrose intersection to the east of Trevallyn Close.
- New pedestrian crossing on Mount Dandenong Road near Stradbroke Road. The CFA will be able to activate the traffic lights at the crossing from within the brigade to provide them with quick and easy access during an emergency.
- No parking along sections of Mount Dandenong Road and on the southern side of Leith Road due to additional traffic lanes. (please see map below)
- Relocating the current pedestrian crossing on Leith Road, approximately 15m to the east.
- New raised pedestrian crossing on the Leith Road service road and bus stop relocated outside the Leith Road shops.
Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
- Extending the centre traffic island to Devenish Avenue.
- Additional parking spaces and improved road surface at the carpark in front of Mt Dandenong Tourist Road shops.
- Relocating the current pedestrian crossing on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road approximately 60m towards Devenish Avenue.
- Improving connection to local shops and, new pedestrian crossings at the Montrose intersection.
- New right turn lane on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road into Devenish Avenue and improved left turn lane into Swansea Road.
- A mountable concrete median for truck drivers delivering to Mount Dandenong Tourist Road shops.
Devenish Avenue
- New ‘Keep Clear’ line marking.
- New line marking to provide separate right and left turn lanes.
Safer speeds
- Introducing a 60km/h speed limit on Canterbury Road, Mt Dandenong Road, Leith Road and Swansea Road between Arlie Crescent and Ravenswood Court to increase safety for all road users.
Montrose Intersection Upgrade
Artist impression images of what the upgrade will look like are shown below.
Keeping as many trees as possible
Since first consulting with the community in December 2017, we have heard and share the community’s desire to ensure the upgrade is consistent with the character and needs of Montrose.
We understand how important it is to the community that we retain as many trees as possible. We’ve worked closely with designers to refine the design. To provide room for new traffic lights and turning lanes, approximately 55 trees have been removed.
We will replant 49 trees, additional native groundcovers and tussocks and contribute additional funding to replant and protect more native trees in the local area. We are also working with Treasuring Our Trees to repurpose the timber to support local projects.
Stakeholder Reference Group
Thank you to all community members who submitted an expression of interest to be part of the Stakeholder Reference Group for the project.
The Group has been formed with representatives from the following interest groups:
- Montrose Township Group
- Montrose CFA
- Montrose Football & Netball Club
- Montrose Primary School
- Montrose Pre-school
- Sarah Court Pre-school
- Residents and business owners
- Yarra Ranges Shire
The group is meeting regularly to provide valuable input into the planning for the project with the last meeting held in August 2024.
We’ll continue working closely with the group on a number of items including traffic management, community events and to ensure we carefully consider construction impacts associated with the delivery of the project.
Get in touch
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For more information about this project, please get in touch.
Email: [email protected]