Part of Ballan Rd that is dangerous. 69976 Picture: GREG BYRNE
By Alesha Capone
A MANOR Lakes truck driver has started a campaign to fix a “dangerous” Wyndham Vale road, drawing the support of more than 200 residents.
Two weeks before a major accident on Ballan Rd, Greg Byrne began a Facebook page called ‘Fix Ballan Road Now Before Someone is Killed There’ and two online petitions.
The page has more than 160 ‘likes’, while his petitions have been signed by more than 110 people.
Recently, a man was hospitalised after an accident on Ballan Rd near Macquarie Drive, after the trailer on another vehicle became loose and smashed into his car.
Mr Byrne said he was inspired to begin the road improvement campaign because he was worried the state of the road was endangering other drivers and motorcyclists.
“I’ve lived in and around Werribee for 35 years and Ballan Rd has never been greatly improved in that time,” he said.
“It’s only a matter of time before there’s another fatality. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.
“The amount of bumps, especially in the Hobbs Rd area, are what started me on this.
“I’ve watched cars bouncing up and down and it’s frightening. I’ve seen them coming around the Hobbs Rd bend and they bounce over the white line pretty frequently, into the centre.
“My ultimate aim would be to have the roads totally upgraded.
“Complete resurfacing to even out all the undulations and bumps is a must, but the road needs to be widened too.”
Mr Byrne said the road, which comes under the responsibility to VicRoads and Wyndham City Council, also needed better lighting, footpaths along some sections and recent pipeline-laying works to be cleaned up along its verges.
Comments other drivers have made on Mr Byrne’s online petition include “please do something about this terrible road” and “the road is very unsafe and dangerous, especially at night and in wet conditions”.
VicRoads metropolitan north west regional director, Nial Finegan, said the authorities were “aware of the pavement condition on Ballan Rd and is scheduled to resurface the road at six locations this year. We will continue to monitor this road into the future,” he said.
