By Mitchell Clarke
Two of Kooweerup’s “worst roads” will be sealed by April, as works officially begin on a $25 million local roads project.
As part of Cardinia Shire Council’s Strategic Sealed Roads Project, which is part of the larger Better Local Roads program, approximately 40 kilometres of local unsealed roads will become sealed.
Main Drain Road, between Denhams Road and Ballarto Road, and Boundary Drain Road, between Denhams Road and Kooweerup Road/Station Street, will be the first roads in this project to be reconstructed.
Westernport Ward councillor Ray Brown said the works would mean “a great deal” for the communities living along those roads.
“This is well overdue. These are probably two of the worst roads we have in respect to maintenance,” he said.
“These two particular roads are connection roads and during bad weather, they absolutely go to pot.”
The roads were chosen because they provided the best links between existing sealed road networks.
“The fact that you go from an unmade road onto bitumen was highly unsatisfactory, so for it to be bitumen the whole way will be ideal,” Cr Brown added.
“This will give connectivity the whole through which will be fantastic. The infrastructure department at council have done a great job here.”
Twelve more unsealed roads have also been flagged to be reconstructed throughout the blitz.
Cardinia Shire Council mayor Brett Owen said the selected roads were located in the highest-traffic areas, offered the greatest convenience for road-users and had the most safety benefits.
The identified roads will also allow for the greatest long-term cost savings by reducing maintenance and were the most requested for road repairs.
The scope of works will include pavement construction, kerb and channel construction, construction of traffic calming devices, drainage works, signage, guardrails, and line-marking.
“This project will deliver 40 kilometres of new, sealed roads and will reduce environmental impacts in the shire normally associated with unsealed roads including run-off and dust, while improving comfort and service levels for road users,” Cr Owen said.
“Commuters having better access to sealed roads will reduce wear and tear and lower maintenance costs for commuters.
“Importantly it will also connect existing sealed roads in the places that they will deliver the most benefit – such as around schools and community facilities and in the highest-traffic areas.”
Work officially commenced in Kooweerup on Monday 30 November and is expected to be completed in April 2021.
The other roads set to be rescheduled are:
– Evans Road: whole length (Bunyip)
– Bessie Creek Road: unsealed section (Nar Nar Goon)
– Denhams Road: unsealed section (Kooweerup)
– Mt Lyall Road: Westernport Road to municipal boundary (Heath Hill)
– Armytage Road: Brown Road to LL Road (Officer)
– LL Road: whole length (Officer)
– Thewlis Road: Peck Road to Brown Road (Pakenham)
– Dore Road: whole length (Pakenham)
– Huxtable Road: whole length (Pakenham Upper)
– McGregor Road: whole length (Rythdale)
– Soldiers Road: McGregor Road to Hobson Road (Rythdale)
– Hobson Road: Ballarto Road to Soldiers Road (Rythdale).
