AQUAGARDENS Shopping Centre business owners may move because the Kings Rd duplication works are causing havoc for customers trying to access the site.
Aquagardens spokesman Frank Ozbeyhun said shops had lost 30 per cent to 40 per cent of business since VicRoads started the works on the corner of Kings Rd and Hume Drive to replace the roundabout with traffic lights.
The roundabout allowed motorists to enter Hume Drive — which is a road that Brimbank City Council is responsible for — from the east and make a right-hand turn into the centre. Since the traffic lights were installed, motorists are unable to make the right-hand turn.
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Now, if they are coming from the direction of Watergardens town centre, they can do a U-turn to access the site from the other entrance.
The motorists who do a U-turn, which they only see the sign at the traffic lights, also have to give way to traffic coming east along Hume Drive and turning left onto Kings Rd.
“If council or VicRoads don’t do anything we are going to relocate,” Mr Ozbeyhun said.
The Aquagardens shopping centre has 12 shops — ranging from a bakery to an Indian restaurant and a bottle shop — and includes the State Member for Keilor’s electorate office.
Salera’s Pizza and Pasta owner Michael Salera said his pick up side of business had dropped by 25 per cent and his delivery side of business had dropped 15 per cent it took longer for the drivers to get to destinations because of the difficult road layouts.
VicRoads Western projects manager John Moylan, said the intersection had been upgraded to better cater for the large traffic volumes.
“In particular, the volume of traffic turning right on to Kings Road from Hume Drive has required two right hand turn lanes at the intersection,” he said.
“Turning in and out of the shopping centre across four lanes of traffic is not supported by VicRoads independent road safety auditors.
“Providing a right hand turn into the shopping centre at close proximity to the traffic lights is unsafe.”
Taylors Ward councillor Natalie Suleyman said widening Hume Drive was the only solution.
She said she had asked council officers to consider allocating funds for part of the proposed Hume Drive widening project in the 2008-09 budget, which would then allow for safer access in and out of the centre for customers.
“Action needs to be taken to minimise the impact on the local community,” Cr Suleyman said.
“We are against rat-running through Rosehedge Estate and that’s why it is crucial for council to make Hume Drive safer.
Council’s engineering and operations general manager Leigh Harrison said the duplication of Hume Drive, between Kings Road and the municipal boundary with Melton, had been estimated to cost $3.33 million.
He said a partial duplication of Hume Drive west of Kings Road (in front of the centre) would allow traffic leaving the centre to turn left onto Hume Drive and U-turn at Kings Road for vehicles wishing to travel west. This would cost about $500,000 and was up for consideration in next budget.
“The council understands the concerns of residents in the area,” Mr Harrison said.
Cr Suleyman said that from the discussions at a recent meeting between council representatives, business owners and VicRoads, it seemed VicRoads’ view was that motorists could drive through the suburban streets of Rosehedge Estate to get back to Hume Drive or access Sydenham.
She said there were 21 speed bumps on the route that motorists would have to take to get back to Hume Drive through Rosehedge Estate.
Mr Moylan said VicRoads will be installing additional signage to assist drivers to access the shops.
