A traffic study has revealed the extent of Wyndham’s traffic woes.
Wyndham council’s review of 2015 traffic volumes shows that sections of 21 roads in the city are at capacity, with 17 having been at capacity for at least five years.
The report, which was done by the council’s traffic engineering unit, reveals that in the past three years, the state government has not duplicated a single section of the arterial road network in Wyndham – despite the city growing by about 30,000 people.
Traffic on Derrimut Road, between Sayers and Dohertys roads, increased 16 per cent from 2014 to 2015. Traffic on Derrimut Road between Fitzgerald Road and Grieve Parade rose 11 per cent.
Palmers, Sayers and Leakes roads are also at or over capacity.
The council will write to VicRoads to highlight the urgent need for duplication of Leakes Road, between Palmers and Fitzgerald roads, and of Derrimut Road, north of Sayers to Leakes roads.
It will also call on VicRoads to commence planning and obtain funding for upgrades of sections of Palmers, Forsyth, Sayers, Point Cook, Heaths and Dohertys roads.
Transport portfolio holder Glenn Goodfellow said traffic on Leakes Road alone had jumped 569 per cent since 2012.
“What this report has shown clearly, year after year, is that our arterial road network has a very bad case of cholesterol – and it’s getting worse,” he said. “We aren’t moving. We can’t accept this any longer in our city.
“We have major, major issues … what really disappoints me is that there is no clear statewide strategy to address this at all.
“There is no policy to address the under-funding of roads … Wyndham has a shortfall of $800 million to $1.3 billion in road infrastructure.
“This report gives council the data and the facts that are indisputable, are undeniable … it gives this council, and it will give the new council coming in, the ammunition and the foundations to advocate for our city in the future.”
The report was unveiled the same week the state government announced a $52 million upgrade of Dohertys Road, between Fitzgerald Road and Grieve Parade, in Laverton North.
The upgrade will involve the duplication of Dohertys Road, increasing the number of lanes from two to four on the 3.6-kilometre stretch.
It will also include the new bridge over the Princes Freeway, two new signalised intersections, three new roundabouts and a 2.3-kilometre pedestrian and bike path along the south side of Dohertys Road, connecting the Federation Trail to Grieve Parade.
