By Brendan Rees
The intersection of Evans Road and Thompsons Road in Lyndhurst would be removed, if the state Coalition is elected to Government.
The Coalition has promised to remove the “nightmare” intersection by creating a trench with works to be completed within 18 months.
“Duplicating roads is not good enough if you fill them full of intersections,” Leader of the Opposition Matthew Guy said during the announcement on Monday 12 November, adding it was only “creating further traffic chaos”
The project is part of Liberal Nationals investment between $4.1 and $5.3 billion to remove 55 of Melbourne and Geelong’s most dangerous and congested intersections.
“It’s an easy one to do given the road reservation is so large and it will chaos that is plaguing much of Melbourne,” My Guy said.
“We’ll dip Thompsons Road, we’re going to dip another intersection further along.
“In Thompsons Road, it’s a perfect example of having a road reservation ready to go and the plan ready to be delivered.
“The Andrews Government has no plan to remove intersections along Thompsons Road,” Mr Guy said.
“A Liberal Government will eliminate the intersections on Thompsons Road to have free flowing traffic – that’s what will make it move.”
Mr Guy said getting in control of traffic congestion will mean “less time spent sitting in gridlock and more time at home with family and friends.”
Liberal Candidate for Cranbourne Ann-Marie Hermans said: “Only the Liberal Nationals have a plan to get back in control of population growth and ease the congestion squeeze on our suburban roads while Labor keeps you stuck in traffic.”
It comes during Star News Group’s Unblock the Gridlock campaign, urging both factions of politics to commit to solving City of Casey’s traffic puzzle. Thompsons Road was voted by readers as one of the worst congested roads.
Save Cranbourne West Residents Group president, Ray Walker welcomed the announcement saying it would “eliminate congestion definitely.”
“Coming up to the roundabout both ends, it’s really a bit of a nightmare,” he said.
Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan said all the Liberals will do is cut roads funding.
“The Liberal’s didn’t deliver a single new arterial road when last in government – they just sacked 450 VicRoads staff and slashed funding for road maintenance,” he said.
“We’ve invested $207 million to fix Thompsons Road – we’ve already opened the new bridge, gotten rid of the level crossing at Merinda Park and we have traffic moving on some of the new lanes while we continue to duplicate the road.”
A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will also remove every remaining level crossing on the Cranbourne Line, including at Evans Road in Lynbrook.
