By Brendan Rees
A Cranbourne resident of 35 years says the number of trucks driving straight through Cranbourne is a disaster waiting to happen.
David Atkins said trucks weaving their way through streets were creating a headache for everyone, and he could not fathom why a bypass wasn’t in place.
“We thought it might’ve happened in the 90s but never did happen,” he said.
“For traffic heading southward toward Cranbourne there was an uncertain proposal to have Thompsons Road and the Clyde Road toward Five Ways as the preferred route as well – of course this never happened.
“They need a big 5000 litre BP truck to jack-knife in the centre of that town and wipe out a lot of people … then those idiots will sit up and take notice,” Mr Atkins said.
“It’s been 12 to 15 years since VicRoads let any trucks got through Sunbury … you won’t see any heavy trucks roll through Lilydale either,” he said, adding Melton and Whittlesea also had truck bypasses.
“Cranbourne is in a time warp and treated as such in so many ways,” he added.
The Department of Transport spokesperson said there were no current plans for a bypass route for heavy trucks around Cranbourne, adding their Transport Safety Services team “regularly patrolled” the Cranbourne area to monitor and improve the safety of heavy vehicles, as well as “ensuring a safe environment for local residents while ensuring those who rely on heavy vehicles are able to go about their business effectively and efficiently”.
The State Government announced last year the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road Upgrade, expected to start in mid-2020, would improve access around the Cranbourne town centre and reduce traffic on the South Gippsland Highway and High Street.
The project, due to be finish by the end of 2025, will see a four-kilometre stretch of Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road duplicated between Thompsons Road and the South Gippsland Highway in both directions, and cut congestion for more than 33,000 vehicles which use this road daily.
Casey mayor Amanda Stapledon said council believed traffic using High Street (South Gippsland Highway) should be managed, respecting the role of the Cranbourne Town Centre as a thriving hub in Casey.
Casey council has welcomed a range of transport upgrades announced by the State Government, including the Thompson’s Road duplication, Narre Warren – Cranbourne Road duplication, and Koo Wee Rup Road duplication and Monash Freeway Upgrades, which will all provide alternative routes for regional and truck traffic around the Cranbourne Town Centre.
“Further opportunities to provide alternate arterial traffic routes could be implemented through the upgrade and extension of Linsell Boulevard from Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road through to the South Gippsland Highway,” Cr Stapledon said.
“The City of Casey will continue to advocate to all levels of government on behalf of our residents to ensure we continue to build the required infrastructure and implement the transport measures needed to keep up with our rapidly expanding population.”
