Eltham’s most congested roundabout has been upgraded – with new traffic lights installed at the intersection of Fitzsimons Lane and Main Road.   

The switch on of the Main Road signals marks a significant step forward as part of the Fitzsimons Lane Upgrade.

Crews worked around the clock to complete six months of work over six weeks to remove the roundabout, install new traffic lights and street lighting, build new drainage and kerbs and complete new footpaths and driveways – making use of the quieter holiday period with fewer cars on roads, minimising disruptions for those travelling through the area. 

The Main Road / Fitzsimons Lane intersection was the most congested intersection in Eltham. Prior to its removal, the roundabout was a major bottleneck with traffic queuing up to 1.5 kilometres long in morning peaks, causing significant delays and frustration with 60,000 vehicles travelling through every day.  

Upgrading the intersection not only means drivers are enjoying safer and less congested trips in and out of Melbourne’s north-east, but it improves cycling and pedestrian paths 

Completion works will continue through to April. A new retaining wall on the Lower Plenty side of Fitzsimons Lane just south of Main Road will be completed during March and April, which created additional space for the new lanes to be added. The wall minimises the impact of the widened road on the environment. 

To enable the intersection to be fully completed safely and efficiently, there will be some changes to the way people travel around Main Road / Fitzsimons Lane over the coming months.   

Wall panels will be installed on the retaining wall during this time, along with the building of new concrete medians and some finishing works to complete the area – works will avoid the busiest movements during peak hours. Some traffic management will be in place to keep workers and road users safe.  

We are replanting thousands of local indigenous trees and vegetation across the project area, on top of our Rotary Club of Eltham partnership that saw approximately 6,750 trees planted in the area. 

The Fitzsimons Lane Upgrade is improving four intersections by 2023, with drivers, cyclists and pedestrians already enjoying safer and less congested trips. For information about the project and disruptions visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au.  

Quotes attributable to Member for Eltham Vicki Ward    

“We’re delivering on our commitment to upgrade Fitzsimons Lane to ease congestion, boost safety and improve reliability in the area.”

“Thanks to our local community for their patience as crews got in to complete these major works and remove this dangerous roundabout to help get motorists home safer and sooner.”