Bypass on the agenda

Kim Waters
RIVAL State election candidates have agreed to push for a Drysdale bypass following calls last week to make fixing the Bellarine Peninsula’s worst traffic bottleneck a top priority.
Liberal candidate Kurt Reiter told the Independent he had the bypass plans on his “wish-list” leading up to the election, while sitting Labor MP Lisa Neville promised to “work with” Vicroads.
Last week’s Independent reported widespread calls from community leaders on the northern side of the peninsula urging candidates to push for a bypass.
They want the bypass to overcome traffic congestion at the notorious roundabout intersection of Geelong-Portarlington, Jetty and Grubb roads, where vehicles often bank-up for kilometres.
Mr Reiter said the Liberals were still working on their “process” for the seat of Bellarine but he expected it to include a bypass.
“My gut feeling is that it will be on the list,” he said.
“The traffic bottleneck is shocking and as the population has grown it’s gotten to the point where it can take as long to get through Drysdale as it can to get up Bourke Street.”
Mr Reiter said was aware of the eagerness among community members for a bypass.
“I’ve spoken to hundreds if not thousands of people who really want this,” he said.
“The traffic bottleneck is not only inconvenient but also really dangerous.”
Mr Reiter said residents had also blamed traffic problems on a new traffic light in High Street, Drysdale.
However, he believed that removing the light would fail to alleviate the roundabout traffic snarl.
“I suspect the problem with the traffic light might just be a timing issue, which we still do need to sort out,” he said.
“A lot of people blame that crossing but I think the simple fact is we need a bypass.”
Ms Neville sent a statement to the Independent saying Vicroads was undertaking regular traffic counts in High Street to assess traffic movements.
“This information is used to determine whether communities have reached a point where a bypass is necessary,” she said.
“A firm proposal for construction of a Drysdale bypass depends on future traffic growth.
“I will continue to work with Vicroads and ensure that regular monitoring of traffic movements in Drysdale is undertaken.”
The Independent has previously reported that Vicroads has begun buying land for a bypass but has yet to determine whether development of the infrastructure is warranted.