A $12.63 million boost to widen a section of the South Gippsland Highway is being touted as a “band aid fix” by residents who use the traffic plagued road daily.
As part of the 2020/21 Victorian Budget, the major road arterial will be upgraded from Lynbrook Boulevard to the Dandenong Bypass, with the road being widened at “strategic points” to increase capacity and optimise traffic flows.
Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards and Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas said the upgrade would make peak hour more manageable for the thousands of commuters who use the road every day.
“Many people are choosing Cranbourne as the place they want to live,” Ms Richards said.
“Our area is growing rapidly and it is wonderful to see the Andrews Government continuing to invest in the important arterial connections and local roads that support our growing community.”
Mr Maas added he was “so pleased” to see continued investment on local roads.
Earlier this year, the State Government carried out the Hallam Road upgrade, which added an extra lane in each direction between Ormond Road and the South Gippsland Highway.
The intersection was also upgraded and new traffic lights, bus queue jump lanes and sharing walking paths were installed.
“The Andrews Government is committed to delivering transport infrastructure improvements to the Narre Warren South community. I am so pleased to see continued investment in our local roads and the jobs that these projects deliver,” Mr Maas said.
“Thousands of vehicles a day use this connection and funding this upgrade means that locals can get home sooner and safer.”
But critics argue the funding will not go far enough in addressing the issues along the road.
Lynbrook Residents Association (LRA) secretary Margie Raman said while the group was grateful for the funding; she didn’t believe it was nearly enough.
“It’s not like we’re ungrateful. This is definitely a start, but it’s only going to fix little sections,” she explained.
“Currently there are some sections of the highway which are insufficient to cope with the heavy traffic.The high population growth in the area, which will continue to expand, from Lynbrook and Cranbourne through to Clyde along the South Gippy should be taken into consideration. This highway is a major corridor for locals and holiday makers in Philip Island and Gippsland, and it desperately needs upgrade.”
Ms Raman added the “narrow section” through Lynbrook just couldn’t cope during the morning and afternoon peak.
