By Bridget Brady
They are just a stone’s throw away from each other, but Lyndhurst and Lynbrook residents can spend up to half an hour in the car during peak times to travel from one town to the other.
Community calls to connect Aylmer Road have intensified, and the heat is on for the government to come to the party.
Residents are calling for the road to be connected at the same time as the construction of the Lynbrook Railway Station.
Lyndhurst resident Briony Molloy takes her son to Lynbrook Primary School and said she leaves at 8.30am to leave plenty of time.
“I think it’s silly because if they’re doing the train station anyway, why not connect the road,” Ms Molloy said.
“I feel that we’re isolated. There’s nowhere even to get your milk and bread. If you run out of milk at 5pm you get stuck in all the traffic on the highway.”
Like many other Lyndhurst residents, Ms Molloy moved into the area under the impression the road would soon be connected. The crossing has been planned since the early 1990s.
Residents are still waiting, and Casey councillor Amanda Stapledon said a connected Aylmer Road would mean the current 10km journey to access shops, medical and childcare facilities would become a quick trip.
“A rail crossing at Aylmer Road would also allow buses to link through the Lynbrook and Lyndhurst area and provide a better connection to the Lynbrook Railway Station,” Cr Stapledon said.
“With the construction of the train station underway, now would be the time to incorporate vehicle connectivity between the Lynbrook and Lyndhurst communities.”
The current population of the Lynbrook and Lyndhurst area is between 9000 and 10,000, and is estimated to reach 15,000 in five years.
Lyndhurst resident Felicity Taylor said traffic on the South Gippsland Highway could mean up to a half-hour journey to drop her children off at school and childcare and get herself to work.
“It makes it really, really difficult,” Ms Taylor said.
“We need a road through.”
The State Government did not respond to inquiries before the News went to print.
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