Major milestone achieved on Thompsons Road Upgrade

BMD Constructions recently achieved a major milestone on the Thompsons Road Upgrade – Stage 1 project, with the opening of the first of two, three lane bridges, separating road traffic from rail, permanently.

The Thompsons Road Upgrade is a $207 million project, funded by the Victorian Government, and includes duplication works between Berwick-Cranbourne Road and Dandenong-Frankston Road, as well as the provision of two three-lane bridge structures over the Cranbourne rail line.

On Sunday 24 June, the Thompsons Road Upgrade team opened the newly constructed northern bridge and traffic was diverted onto the new eastbound lanes between South Gippsland Highway and Marriott Boulevard.

Nearly 145,000 work hours, 1700 cubic metres of concrete and tens of thousands of tonnes of quarry materials have gone into the construction of the first 3200 tonne bridge over the rail line and 60,000 tonne supporting wall.

BMD Constructions General Manager Southern Region, Antony Damiani, attended the opening event which was commemorated with a convoy of 30 vintage cars opening the bridge to traffic.

The 26,000 vehicles that travel on this vital east-west corridor in Melbourne’s south-east are now experiencing a smoother and safer journey and no longer have to wait at boom gates, especially during busy peak periods. We’re creating a more efficient transport network and facilitating better access to growing residential communities and local businesses.

Works will now commence on the second bridge structure and new traffic lanes on the south side of Thompsons Road. The project is scheduled for completion by mid-2019.