Plan for Drysdale snarl fix revealed

Jessica Benton
Authorities have revealed to the Independent their plan to fix the Bellarine Peninsula’s worst traffic snarl.
Vicroads and City of Greater Geelong will duplicate the eastern approach to the intersection of Geelong-Portarlington, Jetty and Grubb roads.
Vicroads south-western region acting regional director Tony Hedley said the duplication of the Geelong-Portarlington Road app-roach would “improve the efficiency of the roundabout”.
The project would provide a seamless link between the east and west approaches to the roundabout because the Geelong side was already duplicated, Mr Hedley said.
However, the authorities could not put a timeframe on the project because they had yet to secure funding.
“Proposals for improvement projects must be considered and prioritised on a statewide basis and are considered in this context,” Mr Hedley said.
The Independent reported in March that motorists labelled the roundabout “the worst traffic bottleneck on the Bellarine Peninsula”.
In the report, Vicroads said it was studying with City of Greater Geelong options to fix the intersection.
Between 8am and 9am on weekdays cars, trucks, school buses and bikes congest the roads leading to the roundabout, with motorists often banked up for kilometres.
They must negotiate the intersection to reach Geelong from Clifton Springs, Drysdale, Portarlington, Indented Head and St Leonards.
Motorists feared increasing delays at the roundabout would worsen when developers opened new residential subdivisions for hundreds of homes at Clifton Springs and Portarlington.
Member for Western Victoria David Koch called for State Government to start work on a Drysdale bypass so motorists could avoid the intersection.
Minister for Roads and Ports Tim Pallas did not return the Independent’s calls for comments.