By CASEY NEILL
RIGHT hand turn bans in central Dandenong could be on their way out.
Greater Dandenong councillors will write to the Roads Minister seeking an urgent review of the bans at Foster and Lonsdale streets with a view to removing or modifying them.
Councillor John Kelly successfully moved a notice of motion on the issue at the Tuesday 15 March council meeting.
The letter will also include a request for a review of traffic and pedestrian movements along and across Foster Street between Lonsdale and McCrae streets and suitable traffic treatments.
“The officers have fought and gone into bat for us for two or three years over this intersection,” Cr Kelly said.
“It certainly is frustrating.
“I hope the minister can take this on board.
“I hope that after all these years that we can get something to happen that will be of benefit to the community.”
Cr Kelly said his concern was with the right-turn ban from Foster into Lonsdale in the morning peak.
In the afternoon, the south-east bound queue extends beyond the pedestrian crossing in front of the Dandenong Civic Centre.
“When that occurs, the congestion blocks traffic from Walker Street turning into Lonsdale Street, resulting in lengthy delays to all traffic, including buses,” Cr Kelly said.
“The queuing also interferes with pedestrians crossing at the pedestrian operated signals.”
To avoid this, Cr Kelly said the “green time” allocated to the south-east bound traffic on Lonsdale Street needed to be maximised.
But that means the cycle can’t accommodate a right-turn phase, he said, because the balance of the cycle time needs to be allocated to green for Foster Street.
“That is why VicRoads banned the right turns at PM peak,” Cr Kelly said.
“Apparently there is therefore no scope to alter this arrangement in the PM peak.”
But he’s been told that VicRoads was reviewing the situation and there was a possibility to re-introduce the turn “provided approvals are granted at each stage of VicRoads’ SmartRoads process”.
“I therefore want to ensure that these approvals are expedited,” he said.
