McKiterick warns of hurdles to clear before bypass works start

BELLARINE Liberal candidate Brian McKiterick says an announcement that work will start on the Drysdale Bypass is premature because a number of hurdles need to be resolved first.

Mr McKiterick’s comments come after Premier Daniel Andrews recently announced that design works for the Bypass would begin within weeks, paving the way for major construction to start in September this year.

“Properties where the road is to be built have not even been acquired yet, but this project is supposed to break ground in less than four months,” he said

Mr McKiterick said three sets of traffic lights within a kilometre of each other – right in the schools precinct – would create congestion, not reduce it.

“This is interesting considering all the advertisements VicRoads have done about the increased safety of roundabouts.”

He also said an independent traffic controls panel reviewed the project last year and came to the conclusion it needed a review, especially around the schools precinct which is earmarked to grow rapidly.

“I believe the announcement was premature, as the same announcement was made in 2014, and that there are a number of hurdles that need to be resolved before work can start.”

In response, Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said VicRoads had spent more than two years completing comprehensive planning and design work for the Drysdale Bypass, which was rigorously assessed by an independent panel.

VicRoads project director Tim Price said the roads authority started planning and design work on the Drysdale Bypass in 2015, and during the design phase, several intersection treatment types along the road alignment were considered.

He said traffic lights were determined to provide the best outcome for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians in terms of overall safety and connectivity.

VicRoads states that only two intersections will receive traffic light treatments as part of the bypass project, one of which will be on the bypass at the western entrance. The other will be installed at the intersection of High Street and Reserve Road.

VicRoads also states that as part of the Planning Scheme Amendment process, an independent panel was formed in 2017.

This panel requested that VicRoads conduct a more holistic review of the access to the school and sporting precinct.

VicRoads completed a detailed review and satisfied the planning authority that traffic lights at the western end of the bypass along with other proposed treatments would provide the most effective management of traffic in and around the schools and sporting precinct.

The Planning Scheme Amendment was approved on December 21, 2017.

VicRoads states land acquisition is well underway to allow construction of the Drysdale Bypass.

Any compensation for land acquired by VicRoads is assessed in accordance with the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986.

VicRoads says it understands land acquisition can be a sensitive issue and is working closely