The Bass Highway Duplication Project involves significantly upgrading the road between Lang Lang and Anderson to improve driver safety and travel efficiency.
The Bass Highway forms an essential route between Melbourne and the Bass Coast region for freight, business, tourism and local motorists.
The highway is a gateway to some of Victoria’s premier tourist destinations along the South and Bass Coasts, in particular the Bunurong Marine Park and Phillip Island. Phillip Island is home of the penguin parade and major events such as the Motorcycle Grand Prix and V8 Supercar Championships.
The highway also services local agribusiness such as the beef and dairy industries.
Duplication works along the Bass Highway have been done in stages. The upgrade from Lang Lang to Acton Road is complete. There are some minor works remaining on the section of highway between Acton Road and Woolmer Road, while the majority of works are currently underway on the final stage of the project between Woolmer Road and Phillip Island Road at Anderson.
Stage 7 includes the continuation of the highway duplication from Woolmer Road to Coast Road and creating a new link road connecting the Bass Highway and Phillip Island Road, separating the Phillip Island and Wonthaggi-bound traffic. The new link road will divert more than half the traffic from the Anderson roundabout, improving safety and travel times and providing a long term solution for traffic flow.
Stage 7 works include upgrading the Bass Highway to four lanes between Woolmer Road and Coast Road and the creation of the new link road to Phillip Island Road.
The proposed works include:
- the creation of two added lanes (duplication) east of the existing roadway between Woolmer Road and Coast Road
- a new link road off the Bass Highway between Coast Road and Phillip Island Road, approximately 1.7 km west of the Anderson roundabout
- upgrade of the existing highway to provide improved road surface and safer access from side roads
- median opening at the Bass Landing/Woolamai Road intersection
- an overpass near Coast Road, to separate the Wonthaggi-bound and Phillip Island-bound traffic
- closure of Coast Road access at Bass Highway
- a new T-intersection connecting the new link road to Phillip Island Road.
The benefits include:
- reduced travel times to Phillip Island which hosts some of Victoria's favourite tourist and sporting attractions
- the ability to handle increased traffic volumes on Bass Highway
- safer and less stressful driving conditions for motorists
- an unimpeded traffic flow between Phillip Island and Melbourne by eliminating use of the roundabout at Anderson
- bypassing a winding section of Phillip Island Road and providing two added lanes along Bass Highway. This will help address the crash history in this area. There have been 13 crashes in a recent five-year period.
- the overpass will provide smoother, safer movements at the connection of the Bass Highway and the new link road, for Phillip Island and Wonthaggi-bound traffic
- assisting traffic to exit Phillip Island after major events such as the MotoGP
- safer access to the highway from side roads
- more efficient freight movement.
VicRoads engaged specialist consultants to investigate the environmental impacts of the proposed road works between Woolmer Road and Phillip Island Road.
All vegetation removal will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of relevant acts.
A Cultural Heritage Management Plan which recognises the cultural significance of this area has been developed and approved by Aboriginal Affairs Victoria.
Works on Stage 7 started in early 2011 and are progressing well.
Earthworks have resumed after winter and material is being moved from the main cut near Phillip Island Road to the new link road and also to the new south bound lanes between Woolmer Road and Coast Road. The project is expected to be completed in early 2013.For further information about this project, you can:
Phone: (03) 5172 2666
Write: Regional Director – Eastern Victoria, VicRoads Eastern Region, PO Box 158, Traralgon VIC 3844
Email: vicroads.eastern@roads.vic.gov.au
Visit: VicRoads Eastern Region Office, 120 Kay Street, Traralgon