Passing through: Drysdale Bypass opens to traffic

THE Drysdale Bypass – the Bellarine Peninsula’s biggest road infrastructure project – is now open to traffic.

The new $117 million bypass, stretching six kilometres from Jetty Road to the north of Whitcombes Road, is intended to significantly reduce traffic congestion in and around Drysdale.

Trucks, which make up more than 11 per cent of the 20,000 vehicles that travel through Drysdale each day, will now be diverted away from Drysdale’s town centre.

Visitors to the Bellarine will also enjoy more consistent travel times, especially during the busier summer holiday season where an extra 5,000 vehicles move through Drysdale each day.

Decmil won the contract to build the project and began major construction works on the bypass in September 2018.

State Minister for Transport Jacinta Allan and Bellarine MP Lisa Neville inspected a section of the bypass near its intersection with Princess Street in Drysdale on Tuesday morning, just before the bypass was officially opened.

Ms Neville said the opening of the bypass was long-awaited and a very exciting day for the local community, not just in Drysdale but beyond.

“It’s Clifton Springs, it’s Curlewis, and it’s the northern Bellarine – Portarlington, Indented Head, St Leonards – to be able to now bypass Drysdale.

“(The removal of) 20,000 movements of vehicles every day down High Street is just going to be an incredible change in people’s lifestyles and ability to move through the northern part of the Bellarine.”

Ms Allan said construction of the bypass supported about 100 jobs.

“We (the Andrews Government) are making big investments in road and rail projects and this completed project is one of those examples, and I know Lisa is already pushing for the next project to come along.”

A new pedestrian underpass is already providing safer access for students, linking the town centre with the education, arts and sporting precinct on Peninsula Drive.

Finishing touches including interpretive artwork on the underpass will be completed by the end of the year.

Over the coming months, some temporary lane closures and speed restrictions will be in place to complete drainage works, landscaping and permanent lighting.

Minor works on the shared use path, which runs along the full length of the bypass, also need to be completed.