The roundabout at Craigieburn Road and Mickleham Road intersection is now closed until mid-April to allow for the installation of traffic lights.
Crews will work over an eight-week period to remove the existing roundabout and install underground equipment and connections for the new traffic lights.
New road edges will also be installed, as will new walking and cycling paths.
The intersection will also be upgraded from the existing layout of one lane in each direction, to extra through lanes, turning lanes and left-turn slip lanes.
Traffic will be redirected on alternative routes in all directions – from 11pm on Sunday to 5am on April 11.
Motorists should allow an extra 20 minutes when travelling during the morning and afternoon peaks and are encouraged to seek alternative routes and avoid the area if possible.
Westbound traffic heading towards Greenvale will need to use Aitken Boulevard before heading onto Somerton Road. 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.
The intersection is scheduled to be open to temporary traffic lights by mid-April with further works to continue on Craigieburn Road near the intersection and on the new lanes.
MRPV project director Dipal Sorathia said the upgrade would reduce travel time for the more than 28,000 vehicles using Craigieburn Road every day, including over 2200 heavy vehicles.
“We’re removing this congested roundabout to boost safety and improve traffic flow for the thousands of motorists who rely on Craigieburn Road for travel each day,” he said.
“Crews will compact 11 months of work over eight weeks – to add lanes, install lights and build new walking and cycling paths – bringing us a step closer to seeing Craigieburn Road evolve into the link the community needs and deserves.”
Works on Craigieburn Road kicked off in August last year, with crews well underway building new lanes at Joe Sullivan Reserve near Craigieburn Plaza and on the southern side of Craigieburn Road near the Mickleham Road intersection.
As part of the upgrade, extra lanes will be added to Craigieburn Road in each direction for more than 5.5 kilometres between Mickleham Road and the Hume Highway.
Speed reductions will be in place along Craigieburn Road during construction.
For more information about detours visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au. Real-time traffic conditions are available at traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au or via the VicTraffic mobile app.
