By Brendan Rees
Work is underway to replace a notorious bottleneck intersection in Cranbourne West with traffic lights.
The roundabout at Western Port Highway and Thompsons Road which has been a constant source of angst for residents at morning and afternoon peaks – will have traffic lights installed by mid-2019.
Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan joined Labor candidate for Cranbourne Pauline Richards visited the site on Friday 24 August to announce the start of the works.
It is part of the State Government’s $207 million Thompsons Road upgrade between Dandenong-Frankston Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road which will add extra lanes – all to be completed by mid-2019.
The new signalised intersections are being constructed at Western Port Highway, McCormicks Road and Evans Road to safely and better manage traffic flow onto Thompsons Road.
The roundabout removal works at Western Port Highway follows extensive preparation activities, including gas and pipeline works, installation of new power poles on the eastbound carriageway between Taylors Road and Western Port Highway, and relocation of power poles along Thompsons Road.
Mr Donnellan said these works were necessary to enable widening and construction of the new road and signalised intersections at both Western Port Highway and later at McCormicks Road and Evans Road.
Early work is also underway for 10 kilometres of shared walking and cycling paths.
Mr Donnellan said: “Work on this notoriously congested road continues to take shape.”
“While others talk about congestion in the south east, we’re building the infrastructure the community needs to get people home sooner and safer,” he said.
Ms Richards said: “There are 200 jobs on this part of the project alone…That’s what makes a difference in the community.”
She added locals knew just how frustrating the intersection has been thanked them for their patience. “It’ll all be worth it by the time we duplicate this and get rid of this roundabout.”
The intersection has been pegged for removal by the Opposition under their intersection removal program.
Under the plan, Opposition leader Matthew Guy would create underpasses at the intersections at Hall Road and Western Port Highway in Cranbourne West, and Thompsons Road and Western Port Highway in Lyndhurst.
“Removing these suburban congestion hotspots will make our roads safer and keep traffic flowing which means less time spent sitting in gridlock and more time at home with family and friends,” said Mr Guy.
President of the Save Cranbourne West Residents Group Ray Walker although he welcomed the traffic light installation at the intersection, an overpass would be a better option in the long-term.
He said it would be “an expensive exercise and I realise there’s a lot of competition for funds” but “does move traffic a lot faster than a set of traffic lights.”
VicRoads has advised Thompsons Road in Lyndhurst will be closed in both directions between Dandenong-Frankston Road and Lyndhurst Boulevard from 7.30pm to 5.30am on Tuesday 28 August.
This is a nightly closure that will repeat until Friday 7 September.
