FUNDING to improve a dangerous Wyndham intersection could be up to 10 years away, with VicRoads conceding future road projects will have to compete with the east-west link for state government funding.
Documents obtained under freedom of information show VicRoads has developed a $10.5 million plan to improve safety at the intersection of Old Geelong and Forsyth roads in Hoppers Crossing, but funding limitations mean it will proceed with a short-term solution.
The intersection was the scene of six casualty crashes from 2006-11 and is Wyndham’s busiest road.
Businesses and Truganina South Primary School have been calling for the intersection to be made safer, warning the number of accidents there was on the rise.
In November, VicRoads will begin work on an $880,000 project to install traffic lights, street lights and safety barriers.
But FOI documents reveal that VicRoads believes the best way to improve safety at the intersection is to realign Old Geelong Road to form a conventional cross-intersection with Forsyth Road. The documents state the proposal will have to compete with other state road projects for funding.
Altona Labor MP Jill Hennessy said the government’s commitment to the east-west link meant the majority of road funding for the next five to 10 years would be spent on that project, with other projects having to wait.
“The Napthine government’s decision to put all of its transport eggs in one basket . . . means that important local road projects like the Forsyth/Old Geelong road intersection will be placed on the backburner, unable to compete for funding,” Ms Hennessy said.
Wyndham mayor Heather Marcus said while the council supported the western end of the east-west link being built as a priority, the municipality’s roads were also in need of funding.
“Our current road infrastructure is inadequate and we are the fastest-growing municipality in Victoria.’’
Roads Minister Terry Mulder said the government would increase its spending on road safety projects to $1 billion over 10 years.
