Highway patrol officers worry about the impact of overdevelopment in Doncaster Rd

POLICE are concerned overdevelopment could cause minor collision hot spots like Doncaster Rd to descend into traffic chaos.

Police are worried overdevelopment could lead to traffic chaos in streets like Doncaster Rd.

POLICE are concerned overdevelopment could cause minor collision hot spots like Doncaster Rd to descend into traffic chaos.

Figures from AAMI show the road is already the sixth worst in Melbourne for insurance claims and Nunawading Highway Patrol officers are worried the situation will only get worse.

Current developments include Westfield’s intention to expand its already huge Doncaster complex, Bunnings’ plans to build a new megastore — with an apartment complex — in the area and the Tullamore housing development on the old Eastern Golf Course site.

Numerous apartment developments have been approved or are pending in the Doncaster Hill precinct, with thousands of new residents expected to move in to the area in coming years.

And highway patrol Sergeant Ben Howie said that could bring chaos on the roads.

“The difference between police and insurance is we assess collisions on whether there are serious injuries or fatalities, in that sense Doncaster Rd is no more serious than other roads in our area at the moment,” Sgt Howie said.

“But it will cop it because they’re getting more flats. More units means more cars, which means more people and more incidents.”

AAMI spokesman Michael Mills said current issues from an insurance perspective related to Westfield and the access to the Eastern Freeway.

“It’s a main road with lots of intersections that carries commuters and local traffic,” he said.

The worst in the nation is the 5km stretch of Springvale Rd in Glen Waverley. An unwanted title it has taken out for the fifth year in a row.