By Goya Dmytryshchak
Hobsons Bay council is campaigning for Grieve Parade to be made a preferred truck route in the lead-up to the federal election.
The council wants Grieve Parade extended north of the Princes Highway, via Jones Road, through to Market Road at Brooklyn.
It says this would reduce the number of trucks using Millers Road.
The future West Gate Tunnel toll road and introduction of truck bans north of the West Gate Freeway is expected to result in 4500 more trucks a day on Millers Road between Geelong Road and the freeway.
Hobsons Bay mayor Jonathon Marsden said the council also wanted freeway access ramps at Dohertys Road, west of Grieve Parade, and the development of a regional freight management plan.
“Throughout the life of the West Gate Tunnel project, council has always advocated for Grieve Parade to be the preferred truck route and we continue to advocate this position to relevant authorities across a range of platforms,” he said.
“In the lead-up to the federal election, council is sending off letters to all candidates asking them to consider the needs of the Hobsons Bay community.”
Better West spokeswoman Rosa McKenna said residents backed the council’s campaign.
“We applaud council’s advocacy to get federal funding to make this a reality and relieve dependency on Millers Road.”
Don’t Destroy Millers Road spokesman Chris Dunlevy said it was a “no brainer”.
“Grieve Parade is a much smarter route, but it must go all the way through to Market Road or the problems will just shift to Geelong Road,” he said. “This link is vital … Millers Road is already at bursting point.”
