Wide open for traffic

Cardinia Shire councillor Collin Ross, mayor Graeme Moore, General Manager of Assets and Services Mike Ellis, with Project Manager Winslow Constructions Daniel Guglielmino and Project Engineer Chris Bearshaw. 121366 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By DANIELLE GALVIN

PAKENHAM’S most hated and congested road will be duplicated by the end of the year – but the McGregor Road rail crossing upgrade will have to wait.
McGregor Road will become four lanes between the Princes Highway and the rail crossing in a $5 million Cardinia Shire Council project.
Up to 15,000 cars travel along McGregor Road each day.
The project will deliver two lanes in each direction, a central median strip and intersection upgrades between Rogers and Main streets.
General Manager of Assets and Services Mike Ellis said the project would “increase capacity” and twice the number of cars will be able to travel along the road.
“It will be a divided carriageway so there will be central medians to improve safety down the middle and the commencement of the major civil works will start next week,” he said.
“The works should be completed by the end of the calendar year.
“It is a major upgrade – it will mean a lot less congestion, free flowing, when the boom gates are down you always get a bank up of traffic when that occurs it will enable the intersection to be open.”
The project has been progressing with the removal of trees and the relocation of telephone lines within the new road alignment since January.
Contractor Winslow Constructors will move onsite this week to begin work on the western edge of the road.
This will include short term road closures of Duncan Drive, Cunningham North and Cunningham South crescents in June.
Pedestrian access along McGregor Road will be maintained through minor detours and safety barriers.
Mr Ellis said the council has been advocating from the State Government to get funding to upgrade the rail crossing.
“That’s the only component of the works that won’t be completed,” he said.
Cr Collin Ross said the upgrade was the most “eagerly anticipated” piece of local infrastructure that the council has undertaken in the past five years.
Mayor Graeme Moore said the duplication of the road would improve safety on the busy thoroughfare.
“The duplication’s first stage in 2009 between Henry Road and Heritage Boulevard delivered immediate benefits by improving traffic flow and relieving growing congestion,” he said.
“Safety of motorists and pedestrians has improved as has access to the Pakenham business district.”
Cr Moore said the works would mean traffic delays at certain times but the overall impact on motorists would be kept to a minimum.
“We appreciate people’s patience while the preliminary works and road upgrade takes place,” he said.
“This will be one of our biggest and most important projects for the year and the end result will be of great benefit to the local community.”