The Western Port Highway upgrade project has eased congestion at the intersections of Ballarto Road and Cranbourne-Frankston Road in outer south east Melbourne by replacing two roundabouts with signalised intersections.

BG&E and design and construction contractor, Downer EDI, developed the project scope and budget in collaboration with Major Road Project Victoria, as the delivery authority.

BG&E was the lead consultant – responsible for traffic, civil, and structural engineering, along with specialist subconsultants for the provision of lighting, landscape, environmental design, cultural heritage review, and road safety audits.

The works consisted of

• Additional through lanes for Western Port Highway at the upgrade intersection.
• Duplication of Ballarto Road from two lanes to four lanes (two lanes in each direction) with central median at the upgrade intersection.
• Additional through lanes for Cranbourne- Frankston Road, including bus priority lanes at the upgrade intersection.
• Dedicated turn lanes.
• New shared user pathways along Ballarto Road and Cranbourne Frankston Road intersection legs.
• Road works, earthworks, retaining wall design, street lighting, safety barriers, new shared paths, traffic signals, and associated works.
• Major culvert extension for the eastern contour drain.
• Stormwater and sub-surface drainage design and flood modelling.
• Traffic engineering.
• Relocation and protection of utility services.
• Landscaping, urban design and associated works.

The Western Port Highway project has enabled all four sets of traffic lights within a six kilometre stretch to be sequenced – so the road network now has increased capacity and efficiency, supporting communities with faster connection for people and freight.