By Brendan Rees
Casey Council has welcomed the Victorian Government’s $169 million commitment to duplicate Hall Road in Cranbourne West.
Council believes the State Government’s commitment to duplicating more than five kilometres from McCormicks Road to Cranbourne-Frankston Road, and doubling the existing two lanes to four would ease congestion in one of Melbourne’s fastest growing suburbs.
Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said council had recently added the road and associated intersections to its advocacy campaign, Commit to Casey.
“It’s good to see the Government isn’t waiting until these areas are fully developed before upgrading the surrounding infrastructure,” Cr Ablett said.
“Commit to Casey is now the most successful local government advocacy campaign in Victorian history, with more than $1 billion promised by both sides of politics.”
It comes as Casey Councillors voted in September to advocate for the State Government and Opposition to duplicate Hall Road as well as upgrade the intersections of Hall Road/Evans Road and Hall Road/Cranbourne-Frankston Road.
Cr Ablett also welcomed the Andrew’s Government’s $54.3 million commitment to convert two roundabouts on Western Port Highway at Ballarto Road and Cranbourne-Frankston Road into signalled intersections.
Cr Ablett said it was now up to the Opposition to match the latest commitment to ensure it’s delivered, regardless of who wins the November State Election.
“We won’t stop pushing our political leaders to deliver the infrastructure our community deserves until election day,” Cr Ablett said.
“The next government, whoever it is, can rest assured we’ll be pushing them to deliver their promises.”
Save Cranbourne West Residents Group president Ray Walker said the State Government’s announcement was “what we wanted all along.”
“It fulfils all the requirements of what we were asking for,” he said.
“Hall Road is a major arterial road; congested and dangerous, and it links from East Link all the way through Carrum Downs and through Cranbourne West.”
However, Mr Walker said the intersection of Hall Road and Evans Road was a “black spot” and was the “biggest priority” in needing to be signalised.
“It’s extremely dangerous…I have it on record that they have had a serious number of accidents just this year on the Evan Road intersection.”
