By Rowan Forster
THE State Opposition has vowed to eliminate McGregor Road’s notorious traffic bottleneck with a $20 million investment to duplicate the thoroughfare.
Victorian Liberal Leader Matthew Guy visited Pakenham on Friday to tout the party’s commitment to ease the suburb’s growing pains – if elected in November’s election.
As part of the overhaul, McGregor Road would be widened to four lanes and new entry and exit lanes would be developed at the Pakenham Bypass.
An ensemble of community members joined the Opposition in welcoming the pledge.
“It’s a bottleneck at the level crossing and a bottleneck at the freeway,” Mr Guy said.
“This is one of Pakenham’s most congested roads.
“It is long overdue with traffic now growing at a huge rate along McGregor Road.”
Mr Guy was joined by Bass MP Brian Paynter, who described McGregor Road as one of the biggest issues in Pakenham.
“It’s one of the biggest problems in and around Pakenham for residents,” he said.
“To get this duplicated and the traffic flowing freely through here will be a massive boost for the residents.
“I have people telling me of 20 to 30 minute waits while they’re dropping their kids of at school, going to doctor’s appointments and work.”
The upgrade will also allow east-bound traffic from McGregor Road to enter the Pakenham Bypass and traffic travelling west along the Pakenham Bypass to directly enter McGregor Road.
It comes weeks after the State Government announced the duplication of Healesville-Kooweerup Road, which has long plagued motorists with danger and gridlock traffic.
For Lynley Baker, who lives on the nearby Heritage Boulevard, the duplication would make her life a lot easier.
“For us to just go shopping we have to cross the railway, and sometimes that can take up to 15 or 20 minutes,” she said.
“It’s an incredibly busy road – even when it isn’t peak hour.
“This is a huge issue that should have been fixed ages ago.”
Mrs Baker suggested that perhaps a level crossing removal at McGregor Road may have been more appropriate.
“I’m not an engineer but I think it would be easier to go over or under on this road,” she said.
While the Opposition did not provide a timeline of events for the duplication providing it is elected, Mr Guy said it would happen “soon”.
