By Rowan Forster
Eight of the Princes Highway’s most treacherous intersections will be completely redesigned under an $18 million spend by the Federal Government, set to be allocated in this year’s budget.
Among those will include the O’Neil Road intersection in Beaconsfield, where just last month two young boys, William and Benson, narrowly escaped serious injury.
Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge joined Latrobe MP Jason Wood at the dangerous thoroughfare on Thursday, announcing the cash splash.
“This is one of the fastest growing areas in Australia and it needs the infrastructure to cater for that population growth.
“It will not only make it easier or faster for people to get onto the Princes Highway, but also safer.
“We have eight intersections that will be fixed and we’re going to get the money out this financial year.
“We will get onto it quickly so there are no further accidents.”
The O’Neil Road upgrade will likely involve the construction of traffic lights.
Mr Tudge and Mr Wood met with Shayne and Sonia, William and Benson’s parents, to discuss the project.
Shayne said he was thrilled with the announcement, crediting the Gazette’s ‘Deadly road plea’ article for the breakthrough.
“We’re delighted that this has been fast-tracked,” he said.
“It is a dangerous intersection and we have a really strong and close community here.
“Our two boys were in a major accident, but we were the lucky ones.
“We probably wouldn’t have been here without that article.”
The intersections that will be upgraded along the Princes Highway are:
• Beaconsfield Avenue/Glismann Road intersection, Beaconsfield.
• O’Neil Road intersection, Beaconsfield.
• Brunt Road/Whiteside Road intersection, Beaconsfield.
• Bayview Road intersection, Officer.
• Tivendale Road/Station Street intersection, Officer.
• McMullen Road intersection, Officer.
• Arena Parade intersection, Officer.
• Thewlis Road intersection, Pakenham.
Mr Wood said the intersections have been a growing concern for residents, particularly as the municipality continues to experience rapid population growth.
“Beaconsfield and Officer are no longer small towns where you can just quickly cross the Princes Highway,” he said.
“People every day are taking their lives in their own hands and every day there are accidents along here.
“To get that funding and make it available straight away, it is vital.”
The upgrades have been on Cardinia Shire’s radar for several years, with the council even undertaking preliminary plans.
However, due to a funding shortfall, it never materialised.
“We’re shovel ready for these intersections because we’ve been waiting for a long time to get these on the map,” Cardinia Shire Mayor Graeme Moore said.
“We can start this thing straight away, for the safety of our community and access for people to get in and out of the area.”
The Federal Government expects to tender the project before this year’s election.
It would only fall through if Labor emerges victorious and breaches the contracts – which would be highly unusual.
