Hit list for upgrades

By Bridget Cook
CASEY Council is set to lobby the State Government and VicRoads for urgent upgrades to the city’s worst arterial roads and intersections.
The council recently released its 2011-12 arterial road and intersection advocacy priorities list and is calling on the State Government to take action.
Topping the priority list for arterial road duplications or upgrades is Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road – from Pound Road to Thompsons Road – and the notorious South Gippsland Highway/Hallam Road/Evans Road intersection named and shamed as the council’s biggest priority for an intersection upgrade.
There have been two crashes at that intersection in the past year and several collisions at the other troubled intersections that feature on the list including Princes Freeway/Clyde Road intersection – with 29 crashes in the past 12 months.
There has been five collisions at Thompsons Road/Western Port Highway intersection and 12 at Pound Road/Shrives Road.
Each year, VicRoads invites projects for consideration under its annual roads program, providing the council with the opportunity to advocate for state funding to improve arterial road connections through the municipality.
City of Casey Mayor Shar Balmes said the priority listing would now be used to advocate to and seek support from other levels of government.
“Casey faces numerous transport challenges, including the need to ensure that arterial roads, the responsibility of the Victorian Government through VicRoads, keep pace with the municipality’s increasing population, which continues to grow by nearly 180 people each week,” she said.
“The improvement of state roads is council’s number one advocacy priority, reflecting the importance placed on this issue by both council and the community.”
Cr Balmes said upgrades were needed to keep up with the area’s rapid growth.
“In the past 50 years, the City of Casey has transformed from a rural area to a thriving municipality with a population of more than 253,000 people and the roads have not kept pace with the rapid development,” she said.
“VicRoads needs to take action to ensure residents are not burdened by a high level of congestion, safety concerns and difficulty travelling to, from and through the municipality.”
VicRoads Metro South Eastern Victoria Director Duncan Elliott said VicRoads had received the Casey Council’s arterial road priorities list.
“VicRoads will work with planning and other transport authorities to determine future priorities for developing the road network in the Casey region, including an assessment of the proposed projects. This will then inform future funding submissions to government.”
Mr Elliot said VicRoads could confirm funding of $1.68 million had been allocated to improve safety at the Princes Freeway/Clyde Road intersection.
“Works are expected to begin in February 2012 and completed by June next year.
“The works will improve safety, particularly for vehicles turning right onto the freeway.”