The Picton Road intersection with the Hume Highway is the site of a large number of crashes, according to a Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) spokesman.

“There is a significant crash history at this interchange, particularly where the highway ramps meet Picton Road,” an RMS spokesman said.

“There have been 45 serious crashes between January 2009 and December 2013.”

As recent as last week, the intersection was the scene of an accident between a truck and a car.

A major cause of accidents is confusion over who has right of way at the intersection.

Also, during times of heavy traffic, vehicles will queue down the off ramp and back to the highway.

Several options for the intersection were considered, including a realignment of the Hume Highway on ramps and off ramps, but traffic lights would improve road safety and offer better value for money.

Preliminary work, including the installation of underground utilities required for the lights, will start this month.

The lights are expected to be switched on by the end of the first quarter of next year.

Once they are operational, RMS will continue to monitor safety at the intersection to gauge the lights' effects on reducing crashes.