DCSCA takes safety concerns to Ombudsman

THE Drysdale Clifton Springs Community Association (DCSCA) has taken its concerns about road infrastructure proposed for the Jetty Road Growth Area to the Victorian Ombudsman.

The DCSCA is seeking assistance getting the agreement of City of Greater Geelong (COGG) and VicRoads to conduct a comparative safety assessment to Ausroads Safe System Assessment Framework.

DCSCA president Rick Paradise said COGG was proposing a new north/south connector road to a new signalised intersection on the Portarlington Road.

“DCSCA is gravely concerned that a new signalised intersection – at the bottom of a slope in an area subject to peak morning and peak afternoon sun glare – and the associated new bus stops in the proposed location on the opposite side of a busy highway to the residential area, will result in an unnecessarily high number of crashes resulting in severe injury and has proposed an alternative solution.”

DCSCA’s proposal is to upgrade Coriyule Road (now unsealed) to a new well-designed roundabout at the presently uncontrolled Hermsley Road intersection.

“We believe that this will have a much lower risk of death and serious injury and will also be more traffic efficient with lower travel times,” Mr Paradise said.

Meanwhile, DCSCA representatives attended the Drysdale Bypass Hearing and presented its concerns with VicRoads’ 3A proposal for the Jetty Road intersection, which includes two signalised intersections and one roundabout, and presented evidence that a twin roundabout system would be safer, more traffic efficient and less disruptive to local residents and the ambience of Lake Lorne Reserve.

Mr Paradise said the group was awaiting the outcome.