By Meg Kennedy<\/p>\n
Road users of the new Halletts Way overpass at Bacchus Marsh remain in the dark \u2013 literally \u2013 regarding the lack of traffic signals and streetlighting in the area.<\/p>\n
Although the new exit and entrance ramps were opened in August 2018, an electricity supply is still yet to connect to the site.<\/p>\n
The lack of streetlighting extends all the way down to the Halletts\/O\u2019Leary Way southern extension, which was officially opened back in 2017.
\nFrustrated road users have taken the issue into their own hands. <\/p>\n
A recent email from Major Road Projects Victoria (MPRV) to a road user, posted on a \u2018Bacchus Marsh Residents\u2019 Facebook group, stated that \u201cthere have been some ongoing delays in getting an electricity supply connected to the site, which has resulted in them being inoperative for a relatively long period since installation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The email said that the issues were exacerbated by theft on-site, which took \u201cseveral months to resolve\u201d, that the work on the site is complete, and that MRPV is \u201ccurrently going through the processes required to engage Powercor to carry out the electrical connection.\u201d<\/p>\n
MRPV estimated that the engagement with Powercor will take until \u201calmost the end of October\u2026and the lights switched on by the end of the year,\u201d though the times were subject to change.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur best case estimate from Powercor sits at around 10-weeks to completion,\u201d said the email.<\/p>\n
Following the email, the Moorabool News posed questions to both MRPV and Powercor regarding the current situation of the streetlights. <\/p>\n
Neither party directly confirmed a date for when the streetlighting was to be installed, what was behind the initial delay, details on the theft on-site, and whether lighting would be switched on by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
MRPV Program Director Tim Price said \u201cwe understand the frustration of residents as we wait for the lights to be powered at Halletts Way,\u201d and that the state government body is \u201cworking with Powercor to ensure this issue is resolved as quickly as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
In an almost mirroring statement, a spokesperson for electricity provider Powercor said the company\u2019s role \u201cwill be to audit the work to ensure it meets the safety and quality standards before connecting the lights to our network\u201d, and that it is \u201cworking with VicRoads to progress this project as quickly as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
The $15.2 million Halletts Way Upgrade overpass was completed in August 2018 and serves as new entry and exit ramps to the Western Freeway at Bacchus Marsh, aimed to stop congestion on Gisborne Road.<\/p>\n
The upgrade also included a new separated shared-use bridge over the Western Freeway for pedestrians and cyclists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Meg Kennedy Road users of the new Halletts Way overpass at Bacchus Marsh remain in the dark \u2013 literally \u2013 regarding the lack of traffic signals and streetlighting in the area. Although the new exit and entrance ramps were opened in August 2018, an electricity supply is still yet to connect to the site. […]<\/p>\n