By ALESHA CAPONE
KEILOR MP Natalie Hutchins has called on the State Government to urgently fund an upgrade of the Watergardens railway station crossing on the Melton Highway.
In parliament last month, Ms Hutchins called on Public Transport and Roads Minister Terry Mulder “to take action to prioritise this matter and to put funds in place in the forthcoming budget for a grade separation” at the crossing.
Ms Hutchins said since metropolitan train services were extended from the Watergardens train station to Sunbury on 18 November last year, significant traffic problems had been affecting the Melton Highway.
“There is terrible congestion at the crossing, and many residents have complained to my office about the amount of time the boom gates are down and the significant time residents have to wait at that intersection when they are trying to get to and from work and to the local schools,” she said.
“Cars are now racing through red lights at the crossing trying to beat the trains, and pedestrians cross immediately after a train has pulled into the station or as the boom gates are going down. It is only a matter of time before a pedestrian is hit or a car crashes into a train at the intersection.”
Ms Hutchins said some residents had complained of sitting at the intersection for up to 20 minutes, as traffic banks up “well past Calder Park Drive on the Melton Highway to the north of the station, and way past Kings Rd and the Melton Highway to the south”.
Star contacted Mr Mulder’s media spokeswoman and VicRoads, but did not receive an official response before deadline.
