Residents take fright at freeway trucks

By Shaun Inguanzo
EASTLINK trucks are honking horns, speeding and tailgating motorists as they travel along Chandler Road moving dirt to and from the freeway project.
Johnson Road residents Wendy and Kevin Trezise and Chandler Road resident Arthur Rogers are the latest in a vocal group of residents to complain about EastLink’s use of the road.
Last week, Star reported that Chandler Road residents were tired of thick red dust that caked the road, footpaths, homes and cars as a result of EastLink trucks carting dirt.
Mrs Trezise said she did not know if trucks had an alternative to Chandler Road.
But she said there was no excuse for their behaviour.
“If they think you are not moving quickly enough for them they will tailgate you,” she said.
“Or if they think you can move over a bit more they pull their air horn.”
Chandler Road resident Arthur Rogers echoed Mrs Trezise’s complaints and said the trucks often sped down the road and started vibrations that rippled through his home.
Keysborough Ward councillor Roz Blades said EastLink trucks were subject to the same road rules as any motorist.
“This is a residential street with a lot of schools and a lot of young children,” she said.
“Everyone has to abide by the rules, whether they are driving a motorised scooter or an EastLink truck.”
Thiess John Holland said it would review Chandler Road’s street sweeper numbers.
Spokesperson Anthony Havers said trucks were now using EastLink itself to transport dirt, meaning fewer trucks were using Chandler Road.
But Mrs Trezise said the sweepers were a quick fix, not a cure, for the problem.
“They keep the gutters clean momentarily,” she said.
“But they are not doing anything about the footpaths.”