Cade Lucas
A notorious Point Cook intersection, the site of four major accidents, is set to finally be upgraded.
Traffic lights will be installed at the intersection of Sneydes Road and Point Cook Road in Point Cook, with construction due to begin later this year and completed by early 2024.
The project, which also includes the widening of Point Cook Rd, received $15.2 million funding in last year’s state budget, following years of campaigning by local residents.
Construction was supposed to be underway and finished by the end of this year, but the discovery of more complex underground cables and pipes than expected, is believed to have caused the latest delay.
The project is now in pre-construction and tendering is set to begin in the coming months, with construction to follow.
Point Cook MP Mathew Hilakari said the project was much more than just the installation of traffic lights, with road widening and improved bike infrastructure also involved.
He said he was looking forward to it finally being completed.
“I’m keen to see this project completed as soon as possible with a projected timeline of completion in early 2024.”
Local resident, Slade Yuille, is frustrated by the time taken and doesn’t buy the reasons for the latest delay.
“I think it’s just a load of hogwash and should’ve started a long time ago”, Mr Yuille said, pointing to a recent incident as evidence of how dangerous the intersection is.
“Have a look at the guard rail from the accident two weeks ago.”
A so-called P turn has been placed in Sneydes Rd in the meantime, but Mr Yuille said the amount of trucks coming through the intersection meant temporary traffic lights were needed instead.
“A truck is supposed to sit a meter back from the intersection but they don’t do that”.
The recent retiree said the increase in traffic in Point Cook made him relieved he no longer drives to work.
“I’ve been living in Point Cook for 11 years and when I first lived here and worked in Tullamarine, it took me between 20 and 25 minutess to get to work.
“Now if I left at the same time I couldn’t get to Tullamarine within 2 hours.”
