Our worst bottlenecks

By Brendan Rees

You’ve nominated roads for our congestion poll, you’ve voted and results are clear – Clyde Road is the worst congestion road in the City of Casey by a long mile – and also takes the title as the worst congestion road in the South East.

But it’s by no means the only congestion road in Casey, with Soldiers Road, Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road and Thompsons Road receiving strong nominations, with Kangan Drive, Hall Road and Evans Road receiving dishonourable mentions.

The poll result is the latest weapon in our campaign to highlight the state of congested South East roads in the lead-up to the State Election on 24 November.

Over the past few months we’ve asked you to share the frustrations of your daily commute, and to participate in the poll.

It comes as the Liberals announced on Wednesday 14 November a $1.3 million commitment – if elected at the state election – to install traffic lights on the Hall Road and Evans Road intersection and integrated with the Cranbourne-Frankston Road signals to minimise queuing.

The upgrade will be conducted in conjunction with VicRoads and will be subject to final design and implementation.

Liberal Candidate for Cranbourne Ann-Marie Hermans said removing these suburban congestion hotspots will make the roads safer and keep traffic flowing.

“Motorists are sick of being stuck in traffic, and want action taken to cut congestion and improve traffic flow and safety on main roads such as Hall Road and Evans Road,” Ms Hermans said.

“With ever increasing congestion across Cranbourne, we need a government that’s focused on getting the basics right, and that includes improving our local roads.

“Only the Liberal Nationals will get back in control of population growth and road infrastructure to get people out of traffic and at home with their families,” she said.

Cranbourne MP Jude Perera said Labor was delivering when it came to upgrading arterial roads.

“On top of the Labors multimillion dollar upgrade of over 10km stretch of Thompsons Road between Dandenong-Frankston Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road and removing the level crossing near Merinda Park Station by constructing two bridges over the Cranbourne rail line, with three lanes in each direction and shared use walking and cycling paths – Labor is delivering the following much needed upgrades,” he said.

Labor has also pledged $169 million upgrade in which will see the duplication of 5.2 kilometres of road on Hall Road from McCormicks Road to Cranbourne-Frankston Road

“Construction will include new traffic lights at the intersections of McCormicks Road, Taylors Road, Western Port Highway and Evans Road, with an upgrade of the intersection at Cranbourne-Frankston Road,” Mr Perera said.

“The upgrade will include $54.2 million to remove two roundabouts at Ballarto Road and Cranbourne-Frankston Road on the Western Port Highway, replacing them with traffic lights.”

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