By VANESSA VALENZUELA
ALBION residents have warned traffic congestion will only get worse following the closure of Kind Edward Ave last week.
Despite months of rallying to keep the road open, the avenue closed last Monday as part of Regional Rail Link (RRL) works.
A traffic assessment study conducted by the RRL earlier this year showed traffic volumes would increase along local streets after the closure of King Edward Ave.
An Albion resident, who did not want to be named, told Star the closure had already adversely affected local traffic, forcing motorists to take alternative routes through Ridley St and Adelaide St.
“The Albion residents have to put up with it, and there’s nothing we can do,” the resident said.
“You can’t take on the Regional Rail Link Authority, the State Government and Brimbank Council and expect to win unless you want to do it 24/7 and attack and attack and attack. It takes too much out of you.
“I don’t think the rat-running and the traffic will ever ease in Albion.”
Western Metropolitan MP Bernie Finn who had thrown his support behind the Albion Resident’s Action Group said the closure of King Edward Ave was regrettable but there was no other alternative.
“We went through very great lengths in an attempt to stop the closure,” Mr Finn said.
“At the end of all that process, there was no other way.
“I have no doubt that residents are upset and if I was in their position I’d be upset too, but when you have a project with the size and importance of the Regional Rail Link, unfortunately sometimes we have to give way to that.”
A spokesperson for the Regional Rail Link said a number of options were considered for the rail/road separation but putting Anderson Rd under the Sydenham railway line was the only viable option.
“To do this, a cutting needs to be created on the section of Anderson Road near King Edward Avenue to allow vehicles to travel underneath the Bendigo and Sydenham railway lines,” the spokesperson said.
“The difference in road levels will mean that it is no longer possible to maintain a connection at King Edward Avenue.”
