State hits back on road claims

By Shaun Inguanzo
THE State Government has hit back at criticism it has failed to combat traffic congestion by not building the remaining parts of the Dingley Arterial.
Liberal Upper House MP for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region, Inga Peulich, last week said that Old Dandenong Road in Dingley was terribly congested and warranted the immediate building of Dingley Arterial extensions, feeding from the newly constructed Dandenong Southern Bypass.
She said the recent extension of South Road had led to the increase in congestion.
Ms Peulich said the arterial, that if completed would link the South Gippsland Freeway to Warrigal Road, was a Labor promise when it was elected to government in 1999.
But this week a spokeswoman for the Roads Minister, Tim Pallas, said the government was spending more money than the previous Liberal government on roads.
“VicRoads monitored local roads after the South Road opening and took action to improve traffic flows. VicRoads has continued to monitor and inspect Old Dandenong Road and has reported that traffic flows are now operating safely,” she said.
“The Brumby Government has quadrupled funding for capital road projects compared with the previous Government.
“After opening the $20 million South Road extension last year, the $65 million Dandenong Bypass was opened to traffic last December – 12 months ahead of schedule.”