By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
IT’S the road that’s caused Casey commuters havoc for 11 years and despite the State Budget’s $40 million duplication investment, they’re still waiting to be heard.
With funding successfully allocated to re-open Evans Road, it’s the alleged two-year wait for construction to start that has locals up in arms.
Hundreds marched down the deserted road on Sunday 15 May with banners displaying one message for VicRoads- “Open Evans Road now.”
The rally, organised by The Casey Roads and Infrastructure Group (CRaIG) is calling for a swift “low-cost solution” to the closure – a left turn only option out of Evans Road onto South Gippsland Hwy.
The unsealed road near the level crossing was closed by the Casey council in 2005, due to safety concerns at the South Gippsland Highway intersection.
Now sealed, Casey Council has been pushing for funding to upgrade the intersection and therefore open Evans Road since 2011.
Their wishes were answered in the State Budget’s multi-million dollar investment to duplicate 1.2 kilometres of Hallam Road between Ormond Road and the South Gippsland Highway.
But despite the community’s best efforts at a solution, the road will not be opened until the South Gippsland Highway, Hallam Road and Evans Road intersection, deemed unsafe, is addressed.
VicRoads Metro South East Regional Director Aidan McGann said: “VicRoads’ Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Casey stipulates that Evans Road will not be re-opened until the South Gippsland Highway intersection is upgraded.”
CRaIG committee member, Robert Ward said the closure adds up to 20 minutes to locals’ commutes that would take “just two minutes” if Evans Road was opened.
“We had more than 150 people attend the march,” Mr Ward said.
“People are saying it’s great to hear that there’s a commitment to re-opening Evans Road, but why not just put a left-turn in, instead of making us wait another two or three years”
Mr McGann said VicRoads recognised that the closure created a disconnect between the communities of Lyndhurst and Lynbrook, saying the project is a “priority to be delivered”.
In November 2015 Acting VicRoads Metro South East Director of Transport and Planning at the time, Ms Savoula Lidis advised that the next step for Evans Road was under investigation.
Ms Lidis said “There were a number of options suggested, and we both (council and VicRoads) agreed to investigate these over the coming weeks.”
However more than six months on and with funds delivered, the community continues to campaign for a short-term solution.
Mr McGann said “As part of these works, pre-planning will involve working together with key stakeholders including the City of Casey to re-open Evans Road.”
“We will keep the community appropriately informed regarding this project.”
Shadow Minister for Roads and Infrastructure, Ryan Smith who attended the rally said he supported the left turn solution.
“I am supportive of the short-term solution as one that I believe has been thought through by council officers,” Mr Smith said.
“It will give relief to those residents who now have to drive significantly out of their way in order to get from one end of the road to the other.
“The community is currently divided by this road closure and should not have to wait for over two more years for this to change.”
Labor Member for Cranbourne, Jude Perera who did not attend the march on Sunday told Star News: “Let’s be frank here, Evans Road is wholly owned and managed by Casey Council.”
“The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with supporting the opportunity with the re-opening of the council owned and managed Evans Road, after it was initially closed by Casey Council,” Mr Perera said.
