By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE Beaconsfield man who got the ball rolling on a study into extra lanes on the Monash Freeway said he was pleased with last week’s widening announcement, but added it still wouldn’t make enough of a difference.
Extra lanes will be added to the Monash Freeway in Melbourne’s outer south-east, with plans for a $400 million upgrade to the major arterial unveiled by the State Government this month.
It was a welcome announcement for local resident Angelo D’Amelio, who presented a petition with more than 1200 signatures on the issue to Gembrook MP Brad Battin in 2011, which was then tabled in parliament.
Under the proposal, the freeway will be widened to five lanes running each way between EastLink and the South Gippsland Highway, and three lanes each way further out to Clyde Road.
However, Mr D’Amelio said the current plan still wouldn’t be enough to ease traffic congestion considerably.
“It will make a difference, but I don’t think it will make enough of a difference as peak hour traffic stalls further beyond Clyde Road outbound and South Gippsland Highway in both directions,” he said.
“If we reflect back to when the Hallam Bypass opened in 2003, it was initially to be three lanes either side until the new government at the time decided to reduce it back to two lanes either side.
“ … I strongly believe the proposed one extra lane in each direction from the South Gippsland Highway to Clyde Road should actually be two additional lanes either side to adequately cater for today and future growth.”
Premier Daniel Andrews joined Roads Minister Luke Donnellan and Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley in Hallam on Sunday 22 November to announce the project, which is expected to go to tender in mid-2016, with construction slated to begin in 2017, and expected to be finished the following year.
Mr Donnellan confirmed Labor would look to “partner” with the Federal Government to fund the upgrade, with some media outlets reporting they were looking for the Commonwealth to chip in as much as half of the estimated cost.
Mr Donnellan wouldn’t specify how much would be sought from his Federal counterparts.
In October it was reported how the Turnbull Government was believed to have agreed to unlock the $1.5 billion East West Link money allocated to the State Government, provided it will be used on projects like the Monash Freeway.
“This is a $400 million upgrade, and we’ll be looking to partner with the Commonwealth on this and many other major projects across Victoria,” Mr Donnellan said.
