By Laura Michell
raffic light sequences will be adjusted at key intersections along Aitken Boulevard and the Hume Highway during the two-month closure of the intersections of Craigieburn and Mickleham roads.
Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) confirmed to Star Weekly that changes would be made to traffic light sequencing on the detour routes, including at Craigieburn Road and Aitken Boulevard, Hume Highway and Craigieburn Road, Aitken Boulevard and Somerton Road/ Kirkham Drive, and the Hume Highway and Somerton Road/Cooper Street.
Real time traffic performance will be closely monitored during the early phases of these works, allowing further adjustments to these traffic light sequences as they are needed, MRPV said.
As reported by Star Weekly, the Craigieburn and Mickleham roads intersection will be closed from 11pm on Sunday, February 13 until 5am on Monday, April 11 as part of works on the Craigieburn Road upgrade.
It says the closure will allow crews to remove the existing roundabout. The intersection will reopen with temporary traffic lights.
MRPV project director Dipal Sorathia said the works would ease congestion and create safer journeys for motorists.
“We’ll be completing 11 months of work over eight weeks during the closure of the Mickleham Road intersection, and we’ll also be adjusting traffic light sequencing at major intersections along our key detour routes – so that all road users can continue getting to where they need to go,” he said.
Construction crews will work around the clock during the closure to demolish the existing roundabout, making room to build the new lanes and install underground equipment and connections for the new traffic lights.
Motorists are being advised to allow an extra 20 minutes when travelling through the area during the morning and afternoon peaks.
Westbound traffic heading towards Greenvale will need to use Aitken Boulevard before heading onto Somerton Road, while northbound traffic can use two main alternative routes via Aitken Boulevard or Oaklands Road and onto Somerton Road.
Southbound traffic will have two main alternative route options, either via Mt Ridley Road and Aitken Boulevard or Donnybrook Road and Hume Highway.
Eastbound traffic can use two main alternative routes by using Somerton Road and taking either Aitken Boulevard or the Hume Highway.