Dangerous Golden Grove Rd in line for $20m upgrade
A MUCH-maligned stretch of Golden Grove Rd has been promised a $20 million upgrade in a sweetener ahead of the state election.
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- ‘Dangerous’ Golden Grove Rd needs to be fixed
- ‘An absolute sham’ Golden Grove Rd misses out on budget cash
A MUCH-maligned 3.4km stretch of Golden Grove Rd — between Surrey Downs and Golden Grove — has been promised a $20 million upgrade if Labor is returned to power at the March state election.
And the Liberal Party has promised to match the commitment.
The condition of the main road has long been a bugbear for motorists, with the State Government not allocating any money in its 2017/18 budget for improvements.
Complaints have ranged from poor lighting and road surfaces to a lack of cycling lanes.
But Premier Jay Weatherill announced the $20 million upgrade plan during a visit to Golden Grove fire station on Monday — including road widening for bike lanes and traffic-light improvements between Park Lake Drive and One Tree Hill Rd.
“The local community and local MPs have been campaigning for an upgrade to Golden Grove Rd for years, so it’s great to be able to deliver this project,” Mr Weatherill said.
The package also includes resurfacing, new and upgraded road lighting and a new roundabout at the Golden Grove Rd and Hancock Rd intersection.
Design plans — with input from Tea Tree Gully Council — will take place this financial year and works are scheduled to begin in 2019/20.
Liberal candidate for the new seat of King, Paula Luethen-Soper, said her party would match the commitment and also deliver an upgrade of Golden Grove Rd.
“This is a win for the northeastern suburbs and the thousands of local motorists who use Golden Grove Rd every day,” she said.
“But Labor’s failure to adequately invest (in) and maintain this road after 16 years will be judged at the state election.”
Local resident and road user of 13 years, Belinda Yard, was “pretty happy” with the announcement.
“That is amazing, I’ll be happy when they do it,” she said.
“That’s really interesting when they’ve had a Liberal Party member (Cr Paula Luethen-Soper) doing all the groundwork to get this. If it happens, awesome.”
Mayor Kevin Knight welcomed the investment.
“While I would have preferred sooner there will no doubt be some financial impact on (the) council regarding adjacent footpaths so this announcement gives us time to flesh out the details.” he said.
Cr Bernie Keane also welcomed the “fantastic news”.
“My residents have been crying out for more than a decade to have this stretch of road upgraded,” he said.
Government data shows there have been 51 crashes on the 3.4km stretch from 2012-16, including one fatality.
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