ONE of Wyndham’s most dangerous roads is in urgent need of funding and is the target of a new campaign.
Wyndham Council and the Wyndham Industrial Liaison Committee united to launch the Fix Dohertys Rd campaign last week and will lobby the State Government to duplicate the single-lane route through the rapidly expanding Laverton North industrial precinct from Fitzgerald Rd to Grieve Parade.
It will also seek improvements to the Hume Rd and Cherry Lane intersections.
With the highest commercial freight density in Australia, the precinct includes an estimated 460 businesses employing more than 30,000 full and part-time employees.
Workers who use the road almost every day told Star last week they felt like they were playing “Russian roulette” every time they drove to work.
Frank, who has worked in the area for about 25 years, said it was a death trap.
“I work in the steel industry which is a fairly dangerous business but I don’t feel like I’m in any danger until I get on the road to and from work,” Frank said.
Mayor Heather Marcus said an upgraded Dohertys Rd is not only important to Wyndham’s future, but also the future of Melbourne’s West.
“It’s extremely disappointing Dohertys Rd has not been upgraded to facilitate the enormous growth in traffic volumes,” Cr Marcus said.
“The frequency of reported collisions at the intersections along Dohertys Rd appears to be increasing. Traffic volumes around these intersections have increased significantly and, as a result, many motorists now take greater risks.”
Wyndham Industrial Liaison Development Committee chairman Mick O’Donnell said the group has been lobbying to fix Dohertys Rd for 20 years.
“The Government must acknowledge the severe road safety issues here, and if funding of full duplication is not possible now, to immediately allocate this smaller funding level to have these intersection upgrades initiated as a matter of urgency,” Mr O’Donnell said.
“In the short term, we must stop the daily occurrence of drivers having to take their life into their hands as they pass the intersections of Dohertys and Hume roads and Dohertys Rd and Cherry Lane.”
As the Chairperson of advocacy group LeadWest was making a speech at the launch of the campaign in front of about 100 frustrated workers, a driver screeched his tires while trying to take advantage of a break in the traffic, highlighting the need for the road to be upgraded.
For more information about the Fix Dohertys Road campaign visit the website www.fixdohertysrd.com.au
