By XAVIER SMERDON
A CAMPAIGN urging the State Government to build a Duncans Rd interchange in Werribee appears to have been given the cold shoulder following a letter from the Minister for Roads Terry Mulder.
Member for Tarneit, Tim Pallas, received a letter from Mr Mulder after he tabled a petition to try and get funding for the long overdue project.
Mr Pallas said at present, the interchange had only east-bound on and off ramps, causing considerable delays and congestions for residents travelling to or from the west.
The letter from Mr Mulder, dated 1 April 2012, said that the interchange was not an urgent priority.
“As you may be aware, in 2008, VicRoads completed the Werribee St/Cottrell St Planning Study to identify short, medium and long-term options to alleviate congestion at Werribee St,” Mr Mulder said in the letter.
“The construction of westerly-oriented ramps at the Princes Freeway and Duncans Rd interchange was one of five recommendations made by the study. The westerly ramps at Duncans Rd were recommended as a medium to long term priority.”
Mr Pallas said that Wyndham residents were sick of waiting for the project.
“It has been four years since VicRoads identified this interchange as a medium term priority, but the Baillieu State Government shows no sign of funding the creation of a full diamond interchange in this term of government. It appears we are getting no closer to the delivery of this vital interchange despite the passing of time, the evident need and the growth in our community,” Mr Pallas said.
“It is another example of this Government’s failure to recognise that the real priorities for people living in the west of Melbourne.”
