By Kyra Gillespie
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was back in Pakenham to unveil a $70 million overhaul of Racecourse Road, one of the area’s worst bottlenecks.
The “congestion-busting package” as described by the PM will duplicate Racecourse Road between the Princes Freeway and Henry Street, put traffic signals at the Bald Hill Road intersection and add a bridge over the Princes Freeway.
“It’s great to be here in La Trobe, busting congestion in places like Pakenham,” the Prime Minister said in Pakenham on Thursday 21 March.
“This will solve the congestion headache problem for the more than 20,000 motorists who use this route every day.
“This is about getting people home sooner and safer, tradies being able to be on site rather than stuck bumper to bumper, and families spending more time together.”
The $70 million figure is not new; La Trobe Liberal MP Jason Wood signed off on the funding request under the Urban Congestion Fund last year.
The cash will come from last years’ federal budget.
Back in December 2018 Mr Wood had said the $70 million would be spent on the grade separation of Bald Hill Road and Racecourse Road to complement the State Government’s Skyrail.
It appears that plan has been scrapped; instead of grade separation, the roundabout will be removed and in its place, traffic signals at the intersection of Racecourse Road and Bald Hill Road.
“I was looking forward to the grade separation as it would have allowed for the free flow of traffic all along Racecourse Road,” Cardinia Shire Mayor Graeme Moore said.
“But the duplication will be fantastic – just for getting traffic off the freeway alone; currently it banks up half a kilometre on the freeway which is a dangerous situation. That will alleviate that problem.”
Mr Wood said the upgrade was not an election pledge and would be fully funded from federal coffers.
“Before the state election we were looking at grade separations; the State Labor Government’s come along and said they are going to build Skyrail, they’ve gone to the election on that and they’ve won it. What I don’t want to be doing is committing money to an existing committed project,” Mr Wood said.
“It’s not like the Skyrail where they’re saying it will be done in 2025, it’s ready now.
“We’re going to need the state government to bring that forward so everything can be done at the same time. It has to be done now.”
Roads and infrastructure are shaping up to be a key are of focus in the lead up to the May election.
Mr Morrison’s visit to the politically-sensitive electorate of La Trobe, held by Liberal MP Jason Wood on a margin of about 1.5 per cent following recent electorate redistributions, is telling of the battle ahead for the seat.
Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge said the upgrade would improve access to the Pakenham town centre and support the growing residential in north and east.
“Council’s done all the work on it to design it, and it will complement the Skyrail,” Mr Tudge said.
“It will certainly fix the dreadful intersection here; I grew up in Pakenham in the 70s, and back then there were only about 3000 people.
“Today this town has 50,000 people, and is expected to grow an additional 20,000 when Pakenham East is developed in the next few years.
“With growth comes congestion pain. This project will ease this congestion hotspot on Racecourse Road. It’s going to fix up the onramps at the freeway exchange with Racecourse Road, so that people can get on to Racecourse Road more simply.
“We’re also fixing up the Bald Hill Road intersection.
“We’re making it easier for everyday families in Pakenham and further afield.”
The upgrade doesn’t cover the entirety of Racecourse Road; the road will only be duplicated up to Henry Street.
The section of road from Henry Street to the Princes Highway will remain single-laned, pushing the bottle neck further up the thoroughfare.
The additional traffic generated from the new Pakenham East township will flow onto Racecourse Road.
Cardinia CEO Carol Jeffs assured residents the other half of Racecourse Road would be addressed when Pakenham East is developed.
“The important bit is up to Henry Street for easing congestion,” Ms Jeffs said.
The upgrade will tie in with the state Labor Government’s duplication of Healseville-Kooweerup Road between Princes Freeway and Manks Road.
