Mayor targets bypass

CASEY Council will embark on a major campaign to secure funding for the long-awaited Cranbourne bypass.
Mayor Kevin Bradford said the council would step up its fight early next year for the State Government and VicRoads to fund construction of the road.
Cr Bradford said the project was a key priority for his mayoral term.
He said business in the Cranbourne town centre was suffering as a result of the large volume of heavy trucks passing through High Street.
He said the bypass would deliver huge benefit to local residents, businesses and the tourist industry.
“The Cranbourne Bypass is Casey’s number one main road diversion priority,” he said.
“We have been lobbying the State Government since 1999 to little effect and the bypass is needed more urgently than ever.
“High Street’s heavy traffic, including large trucks and tourist buses, poses a growing danger to pedestrians and decreases the amenity of the surrounding shopping facilities.
“The Cranbourne Bypass will divert heavy traffic away from the town centre. This will not only make the area safer but will also help revitalise the main shopping precinct,” Cr Bradford said.
The Cranbourne Bypass will stretch 1.2 kilometres from the South Gippsland Highway to Cameron Street.
VicRoads has already acquired land for the bypass. Construction works are expected to cost approximately $12 million for the northern section and $20 million for the Cameron Street section.