Peninsula Link

Peninsula Link is a 27-kilometre toll-free freeway between Carrum Downs and Mount Martha in Melbourne’s southeast.

The Victorian Government contracted the Southern Way consortium under an availability based public-private partnership (PPP) to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain the roadway for 25 years.

Opening in January 2013 it significantly reduced congestion on key traffic routes through Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, particularly during peak periods.

In its first year of operation Peninsula Link recorded more than 20 million vehicle trips.

Plenary took over the asset management role on behalf of Southern Way in 2016.

Asset management innovations

Public art program

One of the initiatives of the PPP is the 25-year partnership with Australia’s largest sculpture park, McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery in nearby Langwarrin.

The rotating art program sees one new sculpture commissioned every two years at alternating sites, resulting in the creation of 14 new works over the 25 years of the concession.

After four years on display the art is moved to McClelland where it becomes part of the permanent collection.

Funding for the program is provided by Southern Way to McClelland, which then manages the selection process.

Design features

Improved travel time

Peninsula Link enables people travelling from central Melbourne to the Morning Peninsula to not encounter a single traffic light.

Road users avoid eight signalised intersections and five roundabouts on the Frankston Freeway and Moorooduc Highway, saving travel times by up to 40 minutes.

Commuter feedback indicates drivers are enjoying the significant reduction in the time they spend travelling to and from work, while visitors to the Mornington Peninsula are finding their holiday journey much faster.

Local economic impacts

Reduced congestion

Traffic monitoring since the opening of Peninsula Link confirms vehicle volumes have reduced by more than 30 per cent on many surrounding roads, including the busy Moorooduc Highway.

Increased liveability

The reduced traffic has significantly improved local amenity by easing traffic congestion. This has increased liveability and connectivity for residents and businesses in the surrounding suburbs. The accompanying 25-kilometre Peninsula Link Trail shared user path is also popular among pedestrians and cyclists.