Melbourne’s newest freeway Peninsula Link is set to open to traffic over night on Thursday 17 January 2013.

The certificate of completion has now been issued by the project’s Independent Reviewer, confirming the 27 kilometre road is safe and ready to carry traffic.

Given the logistics of opening 27 kilometres of freeway at the same time, Peninsula Link will open overnight on Thursday 17 January and carry live traffic by the Friday morning peak depending on weather.

Victorians will be able to travel the entire distance from Melbourne CBD to the Mornington Peninsula without encountering any traffic lights. The opening has also come just in time for motorists heading down to the Mornington Peninsula for Australia Day celebrations.

People will now be able to make a choice to bypass the nine sets of traffic lights and six major roundabouts on the current commute along the Mornington Peninsula.