By Alesha Capone
The new CFA fire station on Derrimut Road, Tarneit will not open until the completion of nearby roadwork and the installation of traffic signals, according to the CFA.
Star Weekly last year reported that the $5.4 million station, which was then under construction, was on track to open in December, 2018.
But a CFA spokesperson said recently that while construction work at the new station was complete, fire services were not expected to begin until “the completion of roadworks and traffic signal installation by VicRoads”.
On Derrimut Road, Major Road Projects Victoria and project consortium Netflow are working on upgrades between Sayers and Dohertys roads as part of the $1.8 billion Western Roads Upgrade.
Extra lanes are being added in each direction for the three-kilometre stretch and nine intersections will be upgraded.
The intersection at Rippleside Terrace, which is close to the new Tarneit CFA station, is one of the intersections to be upgraded.
Asphalting work was completed in the area earlier this month. Road crews also worked with CFA contractors to install underground conduits that are required so VicRoads traffic signalling cables can be laid. They will be used to activate emergency signals to warn drivers fire trucks are entering or exiting the station.
Plans to install the signals have been approved by VicRoads.
Major Road Projects Victoria project director Frank De Santis said: “We’ve been working extensively with the CFA and have installed underground conduits for the new Tarneit fire station as part of recently completed asphalting work on Derrimut Road”.
