A CRANBOURNE resident has called for the urgent duplication of Thompsons Road with new developments making the traffic situation worse.
Brookland Greens resident Zena Van Der Ven said two new estates and the opening of the Marriot Waters Shopping Centre had made Thompson Road “unbearable to travel on” during peak times – particularly between the South Gippsland Highway and Dandenong-Hastings Road.
Ms Van Der Ven said the new developments had made the congestion even worse, on what was already a notorious road for heavy traffic.
“Travelling to work every morning and night I endeavour to find ways to avoid driving up and down Thompson Road,” she said.
“Thompson Road has always been a busy road as it is one of the main roads into Cranbourne from the east or west.
“However I do believe the road is getting more congested every year, especially since the two new estates have opened.
“Don’t get me wrong I am not against the new housing estates being built, as they are both good quality home estates, but once again the council and VicRoads have neglected their duties of keeping up with growth, especially in the Cranbourne area.”
Ms Van Der Ven said she had resorted to trying to avoid the road, but that still caused problems.
“I have tried travelling down Hall Road from Brookland Greens Estate where I live and this also banks up with waiting cars for 500 metres,” she said.
“So then I tried travelling down Evans Road and winding my way through the Mellington Estate, and I have noticed more cars are doing the same thing.
“If I were to travel down Thompsons Road on the way to and from work, it would add an extra 15 to 20 minutes just sitting in the merging traffic from Marriott Waters Shopping Centre to Evans Road.”
Ms Van Der Ven said while parts of Thompsons Road were duplicated, it all needed done in the Cranbourne North area.
“We are currently forced into one lane from the shopping centre all the way to South Gippsland Highway,” she said.
“This is one of the main roads in and out of Cranbourne, but it is highly neglected.
“Cranbourne residents have outgrown the current roads.
“Something must be done before more people move into the area.”
A VicRoads spokeswoman said Vicroads was investigating the possible future upgrade of Thompsons Road between Dandenong-Frankston Road and the South Gippsland Highway, and has recently introduced a Public Acquisition Overlay into planning schemes to ensure that sufficient land is reserved to accommodate a future upgrade.
“The recently completed roadworks outside Marriott Waters were undertaken and funded by the site’s developer,” she said.
“These substantial works have been designed to respond to the impacts of increased traffic from the shopping centre development.
“The works are consistent with the long-term plans for Thompsons Road, and represent a stage towards the ultimate duplication of the road.
“A proposal to duplicate Thompsons Road between Dandenong-Frankston Road and the South Gippsland Highway will be considered for future funding.”
