By ANEEKA SIMONIS
RESIDENTS are pleased with VicRoads who have announced a road update in Officer.
The road authority will be upgrading Cardinia Road to two lanes each way between Damon Street and the Pakenham Railway line, an update revealed.
The upgrade, which is due to begin before the end of the year, will also include a new intersection with traffic lights at Shearwater Drive and Arena Parade and pedestrian crossing areas.
VicRoads said the update will also include, “a new shared path for cyclists and pedestrians along the west side of Cardinia Road (and) a new bus bay heading northbound on the north-west corner of the Shearwater Drive and Arena Parade intersection.”
The announcement has been welcomed by most, but residents believe traffic congestion would be better managed by an overpass.
“Adding an extra lane will help a bit, but an over/underpass is needed to alleviate the congestion. It’s a daily nightmare when you leave the freeway onto Cardinia Rd, then a train comes and you have merge from two lanes into one and wait for the train to pass,” said Deano on the Pakenham Gazette’s Facebook page.
The State Government provided $12.63 million for the update between Princes Highway and Princes Freeway which is expected to be completed by mid-next year.
The announcement forms the next stage of the Cardinia Road update which began construction in 2010.
It included creating two lanes each way between Princes Highway and Damon Street as well as providing a short two lane section at the intersection of Cardinia Road and Henry Road.
