By CASEY NEILL
CRANBOURNE, Lynbrook and Lyndhurst drivers face a longer commute if shock plans to close Abbotts Road at the level crossing go ahead.
South Eastern Metropolitan MP Inga Peulich has launched a petition at ingapeulich.org calling for the State Government to abandon the Dandenong South plan.
The Level Crossing Removal Authority (LCRA) has proposed a new road link over the Cranbourne rail line connecting Remington Drive to Pound Road and “the truncation of Abbotts Road”, which means its closure.
The LCRA said there had been two deaths and many injuries at the site in the past seven years and “this option would provide significant benefit to the Dandenong South Industrial Precinct”.
It did not put forward any alternative plans.
Ms Peulich said re-routing traffic heading along Abbotts Road between Cranbourne, Lynbrook, Lyndhurst and beyond would add an extra 1.5 kilometres each way and further burden the surrounding road network.
“It takes up to 45 minutes to cross Westernport Highway on Thompson Road, 35 minutes at Hall Road, and up to 40 minutes on Glasscocks Road – a dirt road!” she said.
“It can take 40 minutes to get down Abbotts Road to turn at South Gippsland Highway and now they’re planning to extend that by 1.5km, as well as putting more pressure on the Pound Road intersection which will impact on South Gippsland Highway, Greens Road and the Dandenong Bypass.”
But Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said there were other options on the table.
“The LCRA has mucked this up,” she said.
“I’ve raised this with Minister Allan as the minister responsible and have got her assurance that what was put forward is not the position of government.”
Ms Williams said removing the Abbotts Road level crossing was an opportunity to address other connectivity problems in the area, including the dead-end Remington Drive.
So two weeks ago in parliament, she called for an evening industry forum and is awaiting a date.
“Industry are the ones that know best how traffic flows in the area,” she said.
“They use it every day. Their businesses depend on those networks.
“We are seeking to work with them.”
An LCRA spokeswoman said traffic on Remington Drive would flow a lot better once the overpass was in place and the authority would look at feedback coming from businesses about losing parking on the road.
The LCRA will hold another session with property owners on Friday 4 March and will continue to work with individual businesses.
Email contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au or call 1800 762 667 with any questions or concerns.
