Mount Dandenong Tourist Road landslide repair works, Sassafras
Planned
Update - April 2025
Works have started and are expected to be completed in July 2025. Crews are working Mondays to Fridays, 7am to 5pm.
We are temporarily relocating the water main and setting up the site for major works to commence after the Easter holiday period. The traffic barriers at the landslip site are being extended to provide space for the ongoing works.
What to expect
- One lane will remain closed on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road near Mason Grove, with two-way traffic being maintained on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road.
- Traffic flow at the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road landslide site is being controlled by a three-way traffic signal arrangement. There is a portable traffic light for each direction of Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, and one portable traffic light facing Mason Grove.
- We continue to have extra traffic controllers on weekends and public holidays to help improve the flow of vehicles during busy periods where traffic volumes are higher.
- A reduced speed limit of 40km/h to ensure the safety of crews and all road users.
- Medium to high level of noise.
- Crews use modern equipment to keep noise to a minimum. However, the works will unavoidably emit some noise and light. For the safety of road users and workers on site, reversing beepers are required on all machinery.
- Some vibrations and dust around the work site.
We will aim to keep one lane of traffic open on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road at all times, with two-way traffic maintained on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road. However, we may need to close the road when we upgrade drainage infrastructure located under Mount Dandenong Tourist Road.
We’ll work closely with the contractor to deliver the works while minimising impacts to community as much as possible. We’ll keep the community updated if a road closure is required.
If travelling through the area, please observe all traffic management and follow the direction of traffic controllers. Plan your journey and allow extra travel time.
Image below: Map showing the lane closure on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, with temporary traffic lights.
Download a larger version of the traffic conditions map at the landslide site
Support local businesses
Businesses in Sassafras and Olinda remain open and trading as usual. Please continue to support local businesses during works.
Background
Following a severe weather event in July 2024, there was a landslide on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road near Mason Grove in Sassafras.
Our first priority was to stabilise the landslide, cap and redivert an existing gas main service, and clear as much debris from the roadside as possible to ensure the road was safe to reopen.
Once those works were completed, our geotechnical experts completed a range of detailed design investigations including geotechnical, hydrological, underground services, pavement and visual inspections to inform the detailed design.
Considering the damage caused to this section of the road, major retaining wall works are required to properly repair the landslide and safely reinstate the road to a two-lane road. The site is further complicated by multiple underground utilities, steep drop-offs, its close proximity to the Sassafras Creek and road width.
Image below: Example of major structural retaining wall works
Frequently asked questions
Why are repair works only starting now?
Landslides are complex to repair, requiring careful design planning and technical expertise to ensure the final design best suits the site and serves all road users.
What makes this site complex?
The landslide is approximately 25 metres wide and four metres deep. Considering the damage caused to this section of the road, major structural retaining wall works will be required to properly repair the landslide and safely reinstate the road to a two-lane road. This will involve building a 70 metre long retaining wall with eight metre deep supporting poles, as well as relocating existing utilities and drainage upgrades to meet current standards.
The site is further complicated by multiple underground utilities, steep drop-offs, close proximity to the Sassafras Creek and road width.
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If you have any questions, please email us: [email protected]