NEW funding for road safety barriers and intersection upgrades falls short of Wyndham’s needs, according to police, council and motorists.
A total of $6.4million was allocated through the Transport Accident Commission’s road safety infrastructure program.
Of the money, $5.8million is earmarked to upgrade a dangerous section of Derrimut-Hopkins Road, between Leakes Road and the freeway. But it will not involve duplication.
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Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury said wire rope barriers and guard rails would be installed and a roundabout built at the Dohertys Road intersection.
Other improvements will include traffic signals, lights and improved turning lanes at the intersections of Ballan Road and Cambridge Crescent, Werribee and of Boardwalk Boulevard and Wallace Avenue, Point Cook.
Mr Elsbury said the stretch of Derrimut-Hopkins Road, which carries up to 23,000 vehicles a day, was made a priority after 35 crashes in the past five years.
He said the funding was specifically for black spots.
But Tarneit motorist Shannon McGuire said the government had ignored long-running calls for the road to be duplicated.
“In fact, all roads in this area need duplication eventually or else nothing will address the real problem of traffic flow. We’re always put on the backburner as far as infrastructure goes,” he said.
Melton’s Leading Senior Constable Allan Edwards supported calls for the road to be duplicated. “I’ve been to as many collisions on Hopkins Road as I have on the Melton Highway.
“Safety barriers will be good because many have been single vehicles running off the road, but with those traffic volumes there will be a need for duplication.”
Wyndham mayor Kim McAliney welcomed the funding but said calls to address the city’s worst trouble spots remained unanswered.
“It’s great to see much-needed funding injections for these road projects, however it’s disappointing the intersection of Forsyth and Old Geelong Road was not included, which is quite simply a disaster waiting to happen.”
VicRoads regional director Patricia Liew said while there were no plans to duplicate Derrimut Road between Leakes Road and the freeway, she was confident safety improvements would reduce the risk of crashes.
