By Alesha Capone
Western metropolitan MP Bernie Finn has called for state government to address the “ongoing nightmare” of congestion and long travel times experienced by motorists who use Point Cook Road.
Mr Finn, who made the comments in parliament earlier this month, said that residents of Point Cook and Sanctuary Lakes could sometimes spend up to an hour waiting to get on the freeway in peak hour.
“Then, if they are travelling to the city, they have to line up once again for anything up to an hour, sometimes an hour and a half, to get into the city,” Mr Fin said.
“Seabrook and Altona Meadows of course are also affected, although they are a little bit closer to the freeway.
“This road was not built for the sort of population that we now have in those areas.
“It is getting worse by the day, and I know that it has been a very big issue in the local area now for some years.”
Mr Finn called on the r Roads, Road Safety and Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll to ensure “that the funds are made available for the Point Cook Road problem to be solved”.
In response, Mr Ben Carroll told Star Weekly that the state government was “getting on with works to reduce congestion and improve safety for residents in Point Cook and Sanctuary Lakes with a $15.2 million upgrade of the Point Cook and Sneydes Road intersection”.
“As part of a $117 million program targeting suburban bottlenecks, this upgrade will include widening part of Point Cook Road and installing traffic lights to help drivers get to their destinations sooner and safer,” Mr Carroll said.
The Point Cook and Sneydes Road intersection upgrade was announced by the state government late last year, with works now in the planning stages.
A detailed design and engagement with stakeholders and the community is expected to be finalised in September.
