Legislative requirements to permanently close Pound Road between Thompsons Road and Pattersons Road, Clyde North, and Soldiers Road north of Grices Road, Berwick have been formally completed, according to Casey Council.
In Tuesday’s council meeting, administrators confirmed the roads will be formally closed to traffic in 2023 once new alternative roads and intersections are completed.
The permanent road closures will facilitate the construction of new residential estates, roads, intersections and parks in Clyde North and Berwick, including precincts at Clyde Creek, Minta Farm and Thompsons Road.
Council said the existing local road network is not designed to cater for the residential growth in Clyde North and Berwick, with new roads and intersections expected to be built to take traffic off local streets.
City of Casey administrator Miguel Belmar stressed that the roads were not being closed “willy nilly.”
“I am confident that these roads have been closed or will be closed at an appropriate time…so that the minimum interruption will exist as a result of closing these roads,” Mr Belmar said.
“These roads are not being closed willy nilly or in any way out of the blue. This is what has been closed as a result of careful road planning that has occurred over time.”
Pound Road is already closed for construction works between Thompsons Road and Pattersons Road, with detours in place.
The intersection of Soldiers Road and Grices Road is expected to be closed from late 2022 for construction works once detours to newly constructed streets and intersections are established.
Temporary detours will be in place during construction works.
Council warned the roadworks and road closures may result in longer vehicle journeys compared to current conditions, however walkers and bike riders will still be able to travel through the road closures along dedicated paths.
Public authorities and emergency services will also be able to access land and any sewers, drains, pipelines, wire or cables along the closed sections of road.
No formal submissions were made by the public when a council public notice and submission process was undertaken in October and November 2021.
