The News has teamed up with the City of Casey to highlight the seven key projects the council is hoping to secure funding commitments towards in the lead-up to the November state election, as part of its Make Your Voice Count campaign. This week, reporter BRIDGET COOK takes a look at one of the projects – the need for the duplication of Thompsons Road and upgrade of the intersection with Western Port Highway.
THE City of Casey is pushing for the urgent duplication of the notorious bottleneck Thompson Road so local residents can spend less time stuck in traffic.
In the lead up to the state election, the council is seeking an ideal funding commitment of $220 million to duplicate the congested road between South Gippsland Highway and Western Port Highway, as well as an upgrade of the intersection with Western Port Highway.
On Sunday, the state Opposition made a $175 million commitment to duplicate the road, between EastLink and Clyde Road in Cranbourne if it wins the election.
The Coalition government has yet to make a commitment but, Roads Minister Terry Mulder said it was “undertaking detailed investigations” into the project.
City of Casey spokesperson and councillor Sam Aziz said while the council was pleased with Victorian Labor’s commitment, the council felt it may not do enough.
“While council is pleased with the announcement for the duplication of Thompsons Road, the intersection of Thompsons Road and the Western Port Highway is a major bottleneck, which often slows or halts motorists in excess of one kilometre before the roundabout in each direction,” he said.
“Council is concerned that the funds promised will only provide a duplicated carriageway, and are insufficient to include a grade separation of the intersection which is what should be undertaken as the first stage of the duplication.”
Thompsons Road forms an important east-west connection across the region and is used by about 24,000 vehicles per day, a figure the council believes is well above the volumes that would normally trigger the upgrade of a road with one lane in each direction.
An upgrade of Thompsons Road would provide an upgraded connection to EastLink and therefore ease the reliance on the Monash Freeway for some of the 71,000 Casey residents who leave the municipality to work each day.
The council believes the duplication will also facilitate development of employment land in Cranbourne West, bringing more local jobs in the region.
VicRoads has noted that Thompsons Road experiences significant periods of congestion and has undertaken a planning study to duplicate it, meaning the project is ready to move into the delivery phase once funded.
The project is supported by the South East Metro-Integrated Transport Group as a project that supports urban growth.
“Upgrading this intersection and duplicating Thompsons Road will help to clear congestion between Casey and the Monash Freeway corridor, which will help to relieve pressure on the congested Monash Freeway,” Cr Aziz said.
“Council has long been advocating for a grade separation of the Cranbourne Railway Line and Western Port Highway intersection as part of the duplication of Thompsons Road.
“Council has been advocating for these upgrades consistently and it’s great to see that our persistence has paid off to the extent that the major parties are now making such announcements in response.”
Residents who would like to find out more and get involved in the Make Your Voice Count campaign are encouraged to visit www.makeyourvoicecount.com.au.
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT:
“The Victorian Coalition Government is undertaking detailed investigations for an upgrade of Thompsons Road between Dandenong-Frankston Road and the South Gippsland Highway.
“Planning is also underway for an upgrade of the Western Port Highway.
“The Coalition Government will outline its infrastructure policies in advance of the State Election.” – Minister for Roads Terry Mulder
STATE OPPOSITION:
Victorian Labor announced on Sunday a $175 million commitment to the project, to duplicate Thompsons Road, between East Link and Clyde Road in Cranbourne.
“Under Labor, local residents will spend less time stuck in traffic and more time with their families.
“Only Labor will fully duplicate Thompsons Road and improve the local suburban roads that Denis Napthine has abandoned.” – Leader of the Opposition, Daniel Andrews
“Labor’s Thompsons Road duplication and level crossing removal will reduce traffic and travel time, make the drive safer and support our growing population.” – Shadow Minister for Roads, Luke Donnellan
