By MICHELLE HERBISON
VICROADS will recommend a “staged approach” to development of a Drysdale bypass, according to the organisation’s regional roads director.
William Tieppo said VicRoads would use a Victorian Integrated Traffic Model (VITM) to determine the proposed bypass’s impact on the town, considering it as “part of a broader solution” to local traffic issues.
“This model takes into account land use, population growth and current and projected traffic volumes and will provide a good understanding as to how a staged approach could deliver the maximum in the short and long term,” Mr Tieppo said.
VicRoads completed an initial assessment at the end of last year, determining a key issue to be congestion from a lack of capacity at several key intersections of High St.
“Since completing this work, VicRoads has undertaken more in-depth analysis of potential road network upgrades to address these issues, including the construction of a bypass around Drysdale,” Mr Tieppo said.
The Independent reported last July that Drysdale Clifton Springs Community Association was spearheading a campaign to put a Drysdale bypass on council and State Government agendas.
Secretary Patrick Hughes said residents at public meetings last year had expressed strong interest in a bypass.
“The bypass rumbles underneath a number of things. For example, a lot of people’s concern is with traffic and parking, which with a bypass becomes less of an issue.”
The Independent reported last year that VicRoads figures from April 2011 found the number of vehicles travelling in High St south of Murradoc Rd was at 18,000 a day, nearing its 24,000 capacity.
A City of Greater Geelong planning scheme has included a Drysdale bypass since 1985, with State Government so far having acquired 50 per cent of the land required, according to Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville.
Ms Neville in parliament this week requested that Roads Minister Terry Mulder release details of the project assessment, which had been due last December.
“At this stage neither the council nor the community has had any feedback or liaison re this work or the assessment which was due to be completed almost six months ago,” she told parliament.
Mr Mulder directed the Independent’s enquiries to VicRoads without responding directly to Ms Neville’s comments.
