Traffic concerns about Calder Hwy intersection

A PROPOSAL to ban right-hand turns from Phillis Street onto the Calder Highway in Kangaroo Flat will add an almost one-and-a-half-kilometre drive to commuters who want to head into Bendigo.

The plan is part of an overall traffic management solution for a 55-lot subdivision overseen by Spiire property and infrastructure consultants.

Former police officer and local resident Mick Pandik lives close to the intersection and has concerns about the proposal.

“They’re taking the cheap option,” he said.

“It is difficult to get out, and it has increasingly become difficult, but this company is just taking the cheap option and forcing us to turn left when the logical answer is traffic lights.

“Some people have suggested a roundabout.”

Spiire commissioned traffic engineering company Traffix Group to draft a proposal for a solution to the projected increase in traffic over the next decade as part of growth in the area.

The study estimated an average three-minute wait to get onto the Calder Highway from Phillis Street during the morning peak if no changes to the current right-turn are made.

This led to the suggestion of the right-turn ban.

As part of the proposed changes drivers would need travel 700 metres south, U-turn at the Calder Highway and Karula Close intersection, then travel back towards Bendigo.

Mr Pandik said although it would be possible for cars to use the U-turn, he has concerns for larger vehicles.

“Up here at the reservoir, they’ve got trucks, including semi-trailers coming up here servicing it, and if they have to turn left and do a U-turn at Karula Close there’s no way they can do it safely,” he said.

“There’s no provision for them to turn.”

While the Traffix Group report said the company had “undertaken other investigations and assessments,” none, including traffic lights or a roundabout were explored in the final document.

Mr Pandik also has issues with the engineering company’s traffic survey with just one study undertaken during the morning and evening peaks on 8 June 2022.

“It’s not a representation of what goes on,” he said. “It was just a quick study.

“It was only done over one day, two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. To me, that’s not a proper assessment of traffic movement at this intersection.

“They did it when COVID was on, and people were working from home.”

With the proposal still with decision makers, Mr Pandik said he hopes VicRoads might re-do the study to assess the best option for the intersection, now and into the future.

The Spiire subdivision is the first of four potential residential developments that could take place in the area, along with existing in-fill.

“Any good company will minimise cost and maximise profits, so the cheapest option for them, and the easiest, is to make everyone turn left, and inconvenience all of us,” he said.

“I just want the council to look at not only this development but future developments that can take place.”

According to a VicRoads statement, The City of Greater Bendigo has final approval over the development, including traffic management plans.

The proposal to change the flow of vehicles at the Phillis Street and Calder Highway intersection was referred to the Department of Transport and Planning in February to look at road safety impacts at the site.

Subsequently, VicRoads provided the City with conditions the developer would need to meet.

The planning application for the subdivision, of which the traffic proposal is a part, is currently open for public submissions through the City of Greater Bendigo.

Both Spiire and the Traffix Group were contacted to take part in this story but did not respond.