By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A BOLD proposal to add extra lanes to the Monash Freeway could offer motorists relief from their daily gridlock grind.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood has formally put his support behind the widening of the Monash Freeway, pushing for two extra lanes to be added to the busy inbound and outbound lanes.
“I am firmly committed to seeing the widening of the Monash Freeway not for one lane, but two lanes. That’s what we need … we need to see the State Government and Federal Government work together to see this happen, and that is a challenge I will take up,” he said.
As private and public transport commuters continue to suffer through daily delays, a Gazette transport investigation has revealed:
a) An extra lane was planned for both lanes of the Hallam Bypass due to be opened in 2006, but was scrapped for a $10 million saving and earlier completion date.
b) It takes longer for Pakenham commuters to get to Southern Cross Station compared with commuters travelling from Ballarat which is almost double the distance.
c) Hefty infringements enforcing new V/Line commuter restrictions will not come into effect until 1 January 2016.
In parliament, Mr Wood referred to the Monash Freeway as a “car park,” with hundreds of commuters forced to travel at snail’s pace along the built-up, double lane stretch of road.
“From personal experience and feedback I have received on social media, the Monash is absolutely atrocious,” he said.
“All the while this is happening, Daniel Andrews has cancelled pick-ups on the V/Line service from Pakenham.”
Aggrieved residents took to the Gazette’s Facebook page, detailing their daily nightmare on the Monash Freeway – an alternative narrowly preferred by a number of commuters pained by the long, often delayed, slug into work either way.
“(Duplicating the Monash Freeway) would definitely help given the majority of congestion occurs inbound between Clyde Road the South Gippsland Highway merge. Stopping passengers from boarding V/Line services from Pakenham will also increase traffic on the Monash,” wrote Dean Sgarbossa on the Gazette’s Facebook page.
“In our rapidly growing region, with some additional 30,000 residents in Officer and Pakenham by 2035, we need transport options and the upgrade of the Monash alone will not negate the issue. We also need more investment in the rail network which includes track duplication and express services to transport people to work efficiently.”
The Hallam Bypass was built with two lanes in each direction, with the provision for a third if future demand required, according to a State Government spokesman who, however denied the demand for a road upgrade.
“Currently, there is no demand for the third lane as it is being met though improved public transport and other effective infrastructure projects,” he said.
See more on page 5.
