Cr Kim McAliney at the intersection of Sayers and Derrimut roads in Tarneit. 77914 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM residents are being “choked” by an under-funded road network according to the council, with 18 roads currently at or above capacity.
According to the Review of 2011 Traffic Volumes in Wyndham, released by the council last week, traffic on several roads is growing at a rate of 10 to 12 per cent.
The number one road in need of urgent funding according to the council is Forsyth Rd, which was used by 42,670 drivers in 2011.
Wyndham Mayor Kim McAliney said there are further roads that were likely to reach capacity in the next three years.
“This report will not come as a surprise to residents, who are forced to sit in traffic jams during peak hour while VicRoads and the State Government continue to ignore our failing road infrastructure,” Cr McAliney said.
“Of the 18 road sections identified as at capacity, three of these are the responsibility of Wyndham City, with the remaining 15 coming under VicRoads jurisdiction. VicRoads needs to act now to address the growing number of sites experiencing traffic congestion in our municipality and to undertake works where the road is expected to reach capacity in the next few years.”
Deputy Mayor Glenn Goodfellow said residents were sick of the lack of action on Wyndham’s roads.
“The roads that I actually said at this time last year were five years away from being at capacity are actually at capacity now,” Cr Goodfellow said.
“We’ve got that much cholesterol that at the moment we’re unable to pump the blood around our city.”
