THE state of Peninsula Link has come under fire from Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie who accused the state government of poor planning and causing ongoing disruption for commuters and businesses.
Speaking at Federal Parliament on 9 February, McKenzie said Peninsula Link, which “connects the Mornington Peninsula community to work, services and the city every day,” had been mismanaged over the past year.
“Over the last year the incompetent Allan Labor government has turned Pen Link into an obstacle course, with inexplicable speed limits, phantom roadworks, unpredictable lane closures and enough orange cones to be visible from outer space,” she said.
McKenzie pointed to prolonged roadworks last year, including months of southbound lane closures between September and November, questioning the timing and necessity of the works.
“My community was completely baffled. We have a long list of roads that desperately need to be fixed, but not that one, and not as we head into the summer blitz,” she said.
She said residents were again notified of upcoming disruptions via a flyer received last month, outlining further major works scheduled for February.
“Last month I got a flyer telling me that major works would again resume in February, with southbound lanes closed this month and northbound closure next month,” McKenzie said.
The flyer stated: “We will undertake these works in sections, rebuilding the freeway from the ground up, replacing layers of pavement below the road surface to make it stronger and better suited to local road conditions”.
Service Stream, which manages maintenance of the freeway, noted in a January update said extensive roadworks from 15 February included rebuilding the road in stages, with crews replacing the underlying pavement.
The final phase of the project will focus on rebuilding both the southbound and northbound carriageways between Bungower Rd and Old Moorooduc Rd.
Works along 8km of the southbound carriageway will be carried out over a period of up to 14 days, from 7am on 15 February until 10pm on 28 February.
However, McKenzie questioned why motorists had already endured months of disruption if full reconstruction was only beginning now.
“So, why have we suffered closures causing traffic chaos and reduced speed limits for months so that in February they can start rebuilding the freeway from the ground up?” she asked.
According to McKenzie, daily commuters are facing significant delays.
“Today’s commuters are spending an average of ten to 20 minutes each trip stuck behind cones and lane drops,” she said.
“While that doesn’t sound like much, when it’s your lifeblood, your connection to work, family, health services and education an extra 40 minutes a day of driving really impacts your commute.
“Businesses are bearing the cost; local roads are bearing the load and residents are bearing the poor planning.
“The Victorian government is nothing short of a disgrace. Responsible road planning, respecting the commercial calendar of the peninsula, is not too much to ask for.”
Service Stream said staged road and ramp closures would be in place throughout the construction period. All southbound lanes between Bungower Rd and Old Moorooduc Rd will be closed, including the exit ramps to Mornington Tyabb Rd and Old Moorooduc Rd.
The southbound entrance ramp from Bungower Rd will also be closed, with a detour in place via Bungower Rd and the Moorooduc Hwy. Access to the service station junction will remain available.
Service Stream has been contacted for comment.
First published in the Mornington News – 17 February 2026
