Victorian and federal ministers Peter Batchelor, left, and Jim Nelson join forces to turn the first sod on the Pakenham bypass recently.By Jim Mynard
THE long awaited Pakenham Bypass has been officially started as a joint Federal and State Government project.
Federal Minister for Roads Jim Nelson and state Minister for Transport Peter Batchelor turned the first sod for the freeway on Friday, 5 August.
Mr Nelson said during a ceremony at the intersection of the freeway easement and Cardinia Road, Pakenham, that the freeway was the first big infrastructure project under Auslink, the Australian Government’s $12.7 billion national transport plan.
Mr Nelson said the Pakenham section of the freeway was the last missing link between Melbourne and Gippsland.
He said it would save motorists $70 million a year in fuel.
Mr Batchelor welcomed community representatives to the sod turning.
He said the road was a joint Federal and State Government project and was the official start of the actual freeway.
“This will divert heavy trucks and traffic around Pakenham,” he said.
Mr Batchelor said construction of the freeway had always been a number one priority for people living further east into Gippsland because of the safety outcomes and economic benefits it would offer.
The first section of the road will be 6.7 kilometres between Cardinia Road and the PakenhamKooweerup Road.
This will include full interchanges at the intersections as well as westoriented ramps at McGregor Road.
Cardinia Road has been completed from the Princes Highway to the freeway easement.
The completed freeway will join the Berwick bypass at Beaconsfield with Nar Nar Goon and will cost $242 million.
Mr Batchelor said consultation between the government and the Community Consultation Committee would continue.
The committee meets monthly and considers community issues in relation to the freeway project.
