By Bridget Cook
THE City of Casey has named and shamed the municipality’s worst roads and intersections that are in urgent need of upgrades by the State Government.
This month the council endorsed a revised arterial road priority listing which it will use to lobby the State Government for urgent arterial road improvements in Casey.
The council’s number one priority for an arterial road duplication or upgrade is Hallam Road, from Ormond Road to South Gippsland Highway, while the South Gippsland Highway/Hallam Road/Evans Road intersection was given the number one priority for an upgrade.
While the council has welcomed the State Government’s funding announcement for the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road duplication, it is still urgently seeking the upgrade of several more arterial roads and intersections.
City of Casey Mayor Sam Aziz said the improvement of arterial roads was the council’s number one advocacy priority.
“Casey faces numerous transport challenges including a pressing need to ensure that its arterial roads can cope with the municipality’s increasing population,” he said.
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 – with 120 new residents currently moving in each week.
“The arterial roads have not kept pace with this rapid development,” Cr Aziz said.
City of Casey manager transport Paul Hamilton said Hallam Road in Hampton Park was once again identified as one of the council’s highest arterial road priorities for a number of reasons.
“Council has identified this stretch of road as a priority, as the duplication would also address the safety and operational issues at the Hallam Road/South Gippsland
Highway/Evans Road intersection and allow Evans Road to be opened up as a new arterial link,” he said.
Each year, VicRoads seeks projects for consideration under its annual roads program.
The council has endorsed its advocacy priorities and is calling on the State Government, through VicRoads, for urgent upgrades.
For further information visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/advocacy
Council’s 2012-13 priority listing
Arterial road duplications/upgrades
1. Hallam Road (Ormond Road to South Gippsland Highway)
2. Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road (Thompsons Road to South Gippsland
Highway)
3. Thompsons Road (South Gippsland Highway to Western Port Highway)
4. Hallam Road (Princes Highway to Pound Road)
5. Sladen Street (Codrington Street to Cameron Street)
6. Narre Warren North Road – Belgrave Hallam Road (Ernst Wanke Road to Heatherton Road)
Arterial road intersection upgrades
1. South Gippsland Highway/Hallam Road/Evans Road
2. Thompsons Road/Western Port Highway
3. Pound Road/Shrives Road
4. Clyde Road/Greaves Road
5. Princes Freeway/Clyde Road
6. South Gippsland Highway/Clyde Fiveways Road
7. Heatherton Road/Hallam Road
8. Hall Road/Western Port Highway
Freeway upgrades (east – west capacity improvements)
1. Monash Freeway – Princes Freeway (South Gippsland Freeway merge to
Beaconsfield)
Arterial road connections
1. Southern Dandenong Bypass extension (South Gippsland Highway to South
Gippsland Freeway)
2. Princes Highway/South Gippsland Freeway interchange (third lane or southeast ramp)
3. Cranbourne Bypass
