Peninsula Link

Is Peninsula Link a toll road?

No. Peninsula Link will be delivered toll free as an Availability Public Private Partnership (PPP).   Under this model, Southern Way will finance, build, design, operate and maintain the freeway for 25 years. The Government will make regular payments to Southern Way based on Key Performance Indicators for the operation and maintenance of the road.

What will Peninsula look like at the intersecting roads?

EastLink
The interchange is 12-13 metres above current ground level and will connect EastLink, Mornington Peninsula Freeway and Peninsula Link.

Lathams Road
Peninsula Link will pass under Lathams Road at the current ground level.  Lathams Road is six metres above its former ground level.

Frankston-Dandenong Road
Peninsula Link will pass over Frankston-Dandenong Road at six metres above the current ground level.  Frankston Dandenong Road will be lowered approximately 2 metres from current position.  There will be entry and exit ramps on both the north and south bound carriageways.

Ballarto Road
Peninsula Link will pass under Ballarto Road at the current ground level.  Ballarto Road will be approximately ten metres above its current ground level.

Skye Road
Peninsula Link will pass under Skye Road at one metre above current ground level.  Skye Road will be approximately nine metres above its current ground level. There will be an exit ramp off the south bound carriageway.

Cranbourne Road
Peninsula Link will pass seven metres below Cranbourne Road which will stay at its current position.
There will be entry and exit ramps on both the north and south bound carriageways.

Stony Point Railway
Peninsula Link will pass nine metres below the current rail line ground level.  The rail line will be one metre below its current position.

Robinsons Road
Peninsula Link will pass under Robinsons Road five metres below the current ground level.  Robinsons Road will be three metres above its current ground level.

Golf Links Road
Peninsula Link will pass under Golf Links Road one metre below current ground level.  Golf Links Road will be five metres above its current ground level.  There will be entry and exit ramps on both the north and south bound carriageway

Baxter Tooradin Road
Peninsula Link will pass over Baxter-Tooradin Road at nine metres above the current ground level.  Baxter-Tooradin Road will remain at current ground level. 

Frankston Flinders Road
Peninsula Link will pass over Frankston-Flinders Road at nine metres above the current ground level.  Frankston-Flinders Road will remain at current ground level.  There will be entry and exit ramps on both the north and south bound carriageways.

Eramosa Road
Peninsula Link will pass under Eramosa Road two metres below current ground level.  Eramosa Road will be six metres above its current ground level.

Bungower Road
Peninsula Link will pass under Bungower Road two metres below current ground level.  Bungower Road will be six metres above its current ground level.  There will be entry and exit ramps on both the north and south bound carriageways.

Mornington-Tyabb Road
Peninsula Link will pass under Mornington-Tyabb Road one metre below current ground level.  Mornington-Tyabb Road will be seven metres above its current ground level.  There will be an entry ramp onto the north bound carriageway and an exit ramp off the south bound carriageway.

Loders Road
Peninsula Link will travel seven metres below Loders Road which will stay at its current position.

Derril Road
Peninsula Link will pass six metres above Loders Road which will stay at its current position.

Old Moorooduc Road
Peninsula Link will pass over Old Moorooduc Road five metres above current ground level.  Old Moorooduc Road will be three metres above its current ground level and be part of an interchange that provides access between Mornington Peninsula Freeway and Peninsula Link.

Will there be public art on Peninsula Link like there is on EastLink?

Peninsula Link will feature a major permanent sculpture at the interchange with EastLink. This is part of Southern Way’s unique partnership with the McClelland Gallery + Sculpture Park in Langwarrin which was established to manage the selection and installation of sculptures on Peninsula LinkTwo additional sculpture sites will be located at Skye Road and Cranbourne Road in Frankston which are the exit points for access to the McClelland Gallery + Sculpture Park. These semi-permanent sculptures will be commissioned every two years over 25 years resulting in the creation of 14 new works being added to the McClelland Sculpture Park.
Funds for these commissions have been donated by Abigroup and RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland).

More information on the sculpture commission process. 

Will Peninsula Link have a bike path?

A new 25 kilometre walking and cycling path to be built from Patterson Lakes to Moorooduc is an important component of Peninsula Link. Taking in wetlands, parklands and natural bushland, the Peninsula Link Trail will begin at Patterson River, connecting to the Dandenong Creek Trail and terminate in Moorooduc at the Mt Eliza Regional Park near the intersection of Moorooduc Highway and Eramosa Road West.

The path will be a significant addition to the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula walking and cycling networks and is expected to be completed to coincide with Peninsula Link’s opening in early 2013.

See a map and learn more about the Peninsula Link walking and cycling path

Maintenance

Who looks after the freeway once it is built?

Southern Way has contracted Conneq (formerly Bilfinger Berger Services) to maintain and operate the freeway from the day of opening throughout the 25 year Peninsula Link concession period. Southern Way and Conneq will need to meet key performance indicators coverings areas including maintenance and environmental management. This will ensure the freeway is operated effectively and handed back to Government in excellent condition after 25 years.

What about the walking and cycling path?

Conneq will be responsible for maintaining around 20 kilometres of path, generally the sections that run adjacent to Peninsula Link. Conneq will be paying particular attention to graffiti and vandalism and will aim to remove all graffiti present as quickly as possible.  This will be achieved through:

• a dedicated path maintenance crew
• regular patrols of the path
• removal of graffiti.

The sections of the path that do not run adjacent to Peninsula Link, for instance in Patterson Lakes, will be maintained by the relevant local council. The Peninsula Link Trail spans across three municipalities,  Kingston City Council, Frankston City Council and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.

I share a fence line with Peninsula Link. Who is responsible for looking after this?

Maintenance activities also cover repair and rectification of damaged fencing and assets. During construction, Abigroup will ensure that all boundary fences adjoining the Peninsula Link reserve are safe and secure before the freeway opens. Any repair to or replacement of existing fences, other than those needing immediate attention to secure property boundaries, will occur at the end of the construction period. Conneq will then have responsibility for maintaining the fences for the duration of their 25 year contract. We encourage all land owners adjoining Peninsula Link to contact us on 1300 453 035 to discuss individual circumstances.

Construction Noise

What are the hours of operation on this project?

Construction works are generally undertaken from Monday to Friday between 7am and 6pm and on Saturdays between 7am and 4pm, with occasional out-of-hours works, such as on Sundays and night works, as required.  Usually, this out of hours work is required for safety reasons or where there could be significant disruptions to traffic if the works were carried out during the day. Residents will be advised of any out of hours works prior to the works occurring.

People living near the Peninsula Link construction sites can expect noise and possible vibration from time to time while the freeway is being built. Abigroup provides local residents with advance warning about the nature of works and makes sure that EPA guidelines are followed. We have set up a 24 hour community line so people can contact us anytime about noise concerns on 1300 453 035.

Can the reversing beepers on the trucks be turned down or switched off?

While we recognise that reversing beepers can be a source of disturbance for people living near the works, we also need to ensure the safety of our workers. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007, reversing alarms must be fitted to all vehicles and machinery involved in Peninsula Link operations. These must be sufficiently loud to be heard above other noise so people on the ground are aware of the machinery moving around them.

Traffic noise

How do we determine where noise walls will go and how high they will be?

Peninsula Link is being designed to meet strict guidelines which aim to minimise adverse effects on the community. In particular, the high quality urban design on Peninsula Link addresses road traffic noise and has the benefit of contributing to local amenity.

Our design needs to meet the noise standards for new freeways in Victoria, consistent with the VicRoads Traffic Noise Reduction Policy 2005. More information about the policy is available on the VicRoads website.

Our acoustic specialists, Arup, have undertaken extensive noise modelling and monitoring to determine the appropriate type of road traffic noise protection. The modelling considers a number of factors, including road design (height, width, and depth of cutting), traffic volumes, distances to nearby buildings and the ground topography.

To meet the policy requirements, our design incorporates a combination of noise walls, barriers on bridge parapets, open graded asphalt (a quieter road surface) and the cut/depth of the road. 

Read more on noise wall design

What happens 10 years from now when there are more cars on Peninsula Link?  Won’t noise levels be higher than they are now?

Our noise modelling is based on predicted traffic volumes in the year 2026. We will also be measuring the actual noise levels once the freeway is open to determine if the noise standards are being met. If the noise measures are not performing as modelled, further work will be undertaken to ensure that they do.

Will there be signs directing trucks not to use engine breaks? 

VicRoads will determine the inclusion of truck brake signage and their locations along Peninsula Link.  The project has however, been designed with a relatively flat grade to minimise this type of disturbance.

Will the design include low-noise asphalt? 

The freeway surface will be open graded asphalt, sometimes referred to as low noise pavement. This type of asphalt reduces general road traffic noise in the order of three decibels and  is the same surface material that was used on EastLink. 

Dust

What is the project doing to keep dust under control during the drier months?

Our construction team understands that dust can be a concern for properties and communities adjacent to the project corridor.  In accordance with our construction Environment Management Plan (EMP) procedures, the project team has several measures in place to reduce the possible construction and operational impacts of dust. These measures include:

• Use of water carts (non-potable) to suppress dust during construction activities
• Air monitoring devices situated along the project corridor
• Daily visual inspection of areas where topsoil has been removed
• All loads covered when moving to and from site
• All areas of disturbed soil to be re-vegetated as soon as practicable to reduce the potential for windblown dust
• Education and toolbox talks to all site staff on the controls and importance of dust management
• Rumble grids/rock entry and exit pads at all sites where practical
• Construct stockpiles with slopes no greater than 2:1 (horizontal to vertical)
• Hydroseed any batters or stockpiles with grasses if they are expected to remain for a period longer than 28 days
• Undertake surface excavation works in accordance with favourable weather conditions (wind speed and direction)
• Consider installation of dust screens.

Does the dust pose any dangers?

There is minimal risk of adverse impacts from dust falling on residential roofing and subsequent water run-off into domestic water supplies. Water tanks and other water sources are taken into consideration in Peninsula Link’s pre-condition survey inspections which are offered free of charge to most residents within 50 metres of the project alignment and are conducted prior to construction starting.

Are you using mains water to control dust?

Non-potable water is used on the project to control dust. Non-potable water is collected from rainwater runoff in sediment basins along the construction corridor, which is then used for dust suppression.  

Read more on noise and dust.

Drainage and flooding

Will Peninsula Link make flooding and drainage in areas such as Baxter and Moorooduc worse?

The design of Peninsula Link is based on the 100-year flood design criteria and includes requirements that the design does not worsen existing drainage or water catchment conditions. In some cases, it is anticipated that the replacement of old drainage and waterway infrastructure with new infrastructure will lead to improvements in areas on and around the alignment.

The design process considers the local hydrology and is submitted to Melbourne Water for approval.  Once the drainage design is agreed, the hydraulic design of drainage infrastructure (such as pipes and pits,) which also requires approval from Melbourne Water, can proceed. Peninsula Link roadway runoff will be collected and treated before being discharged into the appropriate waterway.

 
Environment

How does the project minimise and manage the environmental impacts of Peninsula Link?

The environment is a big focus and we have a dedicated environmental team that undertakes daily checks of the project. Before Peninsula Link received approval, there was a planning study that looked at all the environmental issues and identified ways to minimise the construction footprint. The study recommended using retaining walls rather than sloping batters in sensitive areas and building a large fauna underpass in the Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve to allow the animals to cross under the freeway safely. Visit the Linking Melbourne Authority website for more information on this planning study.
Abigroup has developed an Environmental Management Strategy which includes a number of specific Environmental Management Plans to minimise environmental impacts as a result of Peninsula Link construction.
There are Environmental Management Plans for:

• Erosion and Sediment Control
• Soil and Water Management
• Heritage Management 
• Flora and Fauna 
• Weed Management 
• Noise, Vibration and Light Emission Management 
• Air Quality Management 
• Waste Management 
• Dangerous Substances Management 

In addition to these plans, the project will be giving back to the environment by planting more than 1.5 million trees shrubs and grasses along the corridor. 

Traffic

Will there be an increase in trucks on my local roads because of construction?

There may be increases in truck movements on local roads from time to time; however the project has a number of initiatives designed to minimise the impact of construction vehicles on local roads.

The primary way the project keeps trucks off local roads is by building haul roads on the alignment. This means project traffic can move material up and down the alignment without the need to use local roads. Traffic management measures, for example temporary traffic lights, are used at intersecting local roads to safely manage vehicle crossings.
When trucks do need to use local roads, the project maps transport routes to maximise the use of primary arterial roads and minimise the use of secondary roads. This planning is done in consultation with Linking Melbourne Authority, VicRoads and local councils.  

Will cyclists and pedestrians be affected by the construction works?

There may be some disruptions for pedestrians and cyclists during construction, especially when we are upgrading existing paths to a higher standard. Any changes to pedestrian and bicycle access are communicated via signage, notices to nearby households and advertising. Where practical, detours and temporary paths are implemented to maintain connectivity.