By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
New traffic flows could be an accident waiting to happen…
SPRINGVALE’S level crossing traffic woes may soon end but could spawn new chaos on Lightwood Road, warns the Springvale Asian Business Association.
The $159 million project, which plunges the rail tracks underneath a Springvale Road overpass, will eliminate long boom gate waits for more than 8000 vehicles during peak periods.
However SABA spokesman Stan Chang said the project’s proposed second road bridge funnelling Springvale Road traffic onto Lightwood and Sandown roads about 200 metres east of the crossing was a recipe for accidents.
Mr Chang, said traffic chaos could ensue because the bridge’s unsignalled intersection on Lightwood Road would be 20 metres east and opposite of Warwick Avenue, which is a popular route to a public car park and Springvale Rise Primary School, as well as nearby railway car parks on both sides of the road.
“There will be two T-intersections and the most complex traffc movements working against each other within a confined space – about 20 metres.
“Once they open that intersection, there will be only chaos.
“Once it has been created, it will be costly to fix. It will create a problem for the next 50-100 years.”
The road bridge is the most direct way for south-bound traffic off Springvale Road – via Sandown Road – to access Lightwood Road.
Likewise, north-bound traffic is guided across the bridge via Lightwood Avenue to access Sandown Road.
Mr Chang said he met with the project managers several times as part of a public consultation process, urging for the bridge to be moved either directly opposite Warwick Avenue or at least 100 metres further east.
VicRoads project director Andrew Williams said the connection’s design was developed through a “lengthy and rigorous design process” involving the project design team and Greater Dandenong council.
“The review identified there are good sight lines at all of the intersections; traffic flow will be low; and even at the peak movements, traffic flow will be maintained as the peaks occur at different times of the day.
“The benefit in keeping the bridge at the current location is that it allows utilities services to be included within the bridge structure that would otherwise require major relocation across the rail corridor.”
Mr Williams also said independent road safety audits of the design found no safety issue, and traffic modelling up to 2046 showed traffic signals weren’t required at the intersections at either end of the bridge.
“A post-construction road safety audit will also be completed and traffic flow and safety will be monitored in the future to assess if any adjustments are required.”
He said the option of installing the connection directly opposite Warwick Avenue was found to be infeasible due to “the location of highly significant Telstra assets”.
Relocation would have caused major service relocations and potential disruption to businesses and residents.
The option of installing the bridge further east was rejected because it wouldn’t meet minimum clearance with the underground rail tracks – which becomes shallower as the track moves eastward.
YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE: Stan Chang speaks out on the project’s untapped possibilities, Page 6.
