Above: Where would you rather be? Traffic chaos along Thompsons Road, near the Western Port Highway in Devon Meadows has led to the intersection being listed as one of Victoria’s worst traffic snarls. 22701 Pictures: Luke Plummer.
By Glen Atwell
PEAK hour traffic snarls at the intersection of Thompsons Road and Western Port Highway in Skye are the second worst in Victoria.
In its annual ‘Red Spot’ list of Victoria’s 10 most problematic intersections, the RACV said the Thompsons Road carpark caused peak hour delays to motorists in all directions.
During peak time it can take more than 10 minutes to get through the roundabout, with queues of up to 300 vehicles descending on the intersection.
The recently opened tollway, EastLink, may reduce traffic in the area but a beneficial effect at this intersection remains to be seen.
The RACV believes a grade separation of the intersection is necessary and has called for the duplication of Thompsons Road between Dandenong-Frankston Road and South Gippsland Highway.
The number one spot on the list went to the Springvale and Whitehorse roads intersection in Nunawading.
That spot is a repeat offender, having taken out top spot in the same survey in 2006.
RACV chief engineer Peter Daly said while he was not surprised at the repetitive findings, the results were still “incredibly exasperating”.
“The notorious Nunawading intersection is a prime example,” Mr Daly said.
“Six of the top 10 Red Spots, including the five repeat offenders, are level crossing sites. While this reflects a welcome increase in train patronage, it also indicates longer boom gate down times and the government dragging its heels on improvements,” he said.
RACV transport engineers have conducted site inspections at each of the top 10 sites to assess what improvements may be possible to reduce congestion.
