By Lia Bichel
PRESSURE is on the Casey Council to install a roundabout at a busy intersection in Berwick.
NARRE Warren North Labor MP Luke Donnellan has called on the council to deliver promised funding for a roundabout at the intersection of Harkaway and Ernst Wanke roads.
Last year a community petition of more than 750 signatures was delivered by Councillor Simon Curtis to the City of Casey, calling on the council to build a roundabout.
City of Casey transport manager Paul Hamilton said a report dealing with the intersection was considered by the Casey Council at its meeting on 21 September last year.
Mr Donnellan said a Casey report in September said that the installation of a roundabout at the intersection would be a suitable upgrade to improve traffic flow and make the intersection safer for motorists.
He said the report said that motorists were regularly experiencing significant delays during peak period at the intersection.
“The report by Casey’s officers showed that residents were right about the problems at the intersection. It’s now time for Casey to act,” Mr Donnellan said.
The intersection had previously been identified in the council’s “Grey Spot Strategy”.
Mr Donnellan said he hoped that Casey would deliver the promised funding for the intersection in the 2011 budget.
“I’ve written to Casey to ask them for details about plans for the project and if they will dedicate any funding to the much-needed roundabout in the 2011 budget,” Mr Donnellan said.
Mr Hamilton said the project, which is estimated to cost $600,000, was listed for consideration in the council’s “forward capital works” program and design investigations have begun.