By Jessica Anstice
Greaves Road in Berwick during peak times is ruining neighbourhoods and preventing residents from leaving their homes due to heavy traffic congestion.
John Batty works as the manager at Burdens Bathrooms, situated on Clyde Road, on the north side of the Monash Freeway.
“To get home from work I turn right off Clyde Road onto Greaves Road,” Mr Batty said.
“Once I get home from work, I won’t go back out until 7.30pm as traffic banks up along Greaves Road and it takes four or five sets of traffic lights before getting to Eden Rise.
“The proposal for an on and off ramp for the Beaconsfield roundabout, that’s going to come around the back of Kingsmere Estate and hook up to O’Shea Road will bring more traffic to Clyde Road and Soldiers Road.”
Mr Batty said the government needs to act now as Casey is the biggest growing housing corridor in the world.
“They need to get rid of the level crossing,” he said.
“From Dandenong to Pakenham, we’re still suffering with level crossing all the way through.”
At the beginning of March, City of Casey welcomed a VCAT order granting a permit for the construction of the Greaves Road roundabout.
The development will upgrade the existing roundabout at the intersection of Greaves Road, Narre Warren South and Berwick Springs Promenade to accommodate increased traffic flows.
The roundabout and associated works are integral to the upgrade of Greaves Road, allowing for Vicroads to assume control of the road in the future and upgrade it to a four lane arterial road.
As part of the roundabout construction, the Berwick Springs Estate entry feature will be relocated further south to accommodate the roundabout and associated works.
City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said the current small scale roundabout at the entry to Berwick Springs estate was always intended to be an interim arrangement until the duplication of Greaves Road was scheduled to commence.
“The installation of this larger roundabout will work to reduce traffic congestion for both Berwick Springs residents and the broader City of Casey commuters”, he said.
“As a council we were aware of the community’s attachment to the bluestone entry walls and we investigated the option of having the roundabout relocated further north to avoid impacting upon the entry, however it was deemed to not be a feasible option.
“In June 2017, council held an information session that enabled residents to view the application document and interact with Council officers and representatives from Vicroads, Melbourne Water, the Victorian Planning Authority and the developer.
“The proposal for the entrance will ensure that it is replicated and continues to comprise of two bluestone tiers and the planting of new oak trees to replace the boulevard canopy.”
