By Alesha Capone
Hundreds of people fed up with congestion and safety issues on Point Cook Road have signed a petition calling for action on the issue.
Point Cook man Justin Menzel started the Change.org petition on November 13, which has since been signed by more than 1870 people.
“My primary motivation was to highlight a very important local issue, prompt the government to act and ultimately ensure the safety of our community,” Mr Menzel said.
He said that due to poor planning and rapid population growth, the “incredible traffic congestion” on Point Cook Road often involved a commute of 45 minutes or more “resulting in driver frustration, risk taking and anti-social behavior”.
“At peak times the commute can take 10 minutes to travel just one kilometre,” Mr Menzel said.
“I leave home at 6.10am and it can take me 20-25 minutes to navigate my way to Aircraft train station, often taking detours down side streets like Jamieson Way and Seabrook Boulevard.
“The inadequate nature of Point Cook Road has been known for decades and despite 60,000 people now calling Point Cook home and population expected to grow and congestion increasing, there’s still no plan in sight.”
He said potential solutions to Point Cook Road could include duplication in both directions or a traffic flow management system for at least three lanes; dedicated bus lanes; a train station for Point Cook; improved access on and off the Princes Freeway; traffic lights at “major black spot intersections” such as Sneydes Road; and improved off street parking for schools.
Hobsons Bay Council said they were aware of the petition, but that Point Cook Road was the responsibility of VicRoads and the Department of Transport.
A Department of Transport spokesperson said: “We continue to work closely with our road safety partners, Wyndham City Council and Hobsons Bay Council to improve traffic flow and safety along the Point Cook Road corridor.”
A state government spokesperson said: “We’ve recently finished resurfacing Point Cook Road to make it safer and more reliable and we’re widening Dunnings Road, Palmers Road and the Forsyth Road overpass to make it easier for locals to get to where they need to go.”
See chng.it/WLqW65sZ to sign the petition.
