By NOEL MURPHY
CHRONIC traffic congestion at Anglesea’s Great Ocean Road roundabout is again frustrating motorists, business, visitors … and politicians.
The perennial bottleneck, ignored by authorities for years, sees a peak of some 16,000 cars negotiate the roundabout at snail’s pace a day.
The latest summer gridlock this week had Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson up in arms after lobbying VicRoads to make the intersection a priority project since she was elected.
But there could be light on the horizon — if State funding can be attracted.
“I have had some positive discussions with Vic Roads. I understand it is planning a community consultation and that preliminary work on an upgrade has been completed,“ she said.
VicRoads South Western region director William Tieppo said he was aware of the congestion at, and the stakeholder interest in, the Camp Road and Great Ocean Road roundabout.
“VicRoads has developed a draft concept plan for roundabout improvements and will be planning to engage the community by mid-2015 on these plans,“ Mr Tieppo said.
“While there is currently no funding for this project, VicRoads has submitted a funding proposal for consideration in the 2015/2016 financial year.
“VicRoads welcomes discussions around the need for an upgrade of this important piece of road infrastructure.“
Ms Henderson described congestion in and around the Anglesea township over summer as “terrible“.
“At times, the traffic bank-up in and out of the town can stretch up to eight kilometres. This simply cannot continue,“ she said.
Ms Henderson demanded the State Government investigate an alternate route through or around Anglesea.
“This would not only alleviate traffic congestion but mitigate the risks of being trapped by bushfire,” she said.
“Up to 16,000 vehicles can pass through Anglesea daily in the peak holiday season. This congestion is impacting on residents, local businesses and holiday makers.”
Ms Henderson has a petition calling on the Government and Roads and Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan to take urgent action to fix the problem roundabout.
The online petition is at sarahhenderson.com.au/2015/01/07/upgradeanglesearoundaboutpetition/
