Drivers push to widen Governor Rd, Mordialloc

Drivers on a busy arterial road in Mordialloc face daily bumper-to-bumper traffic and then “risk” their safety trying to navigate a three-lane roundabout. After years of worsening congestion, they’re demanding urgent upgrades.

A community push to duplicate a truck-choked, busy arterial road has been backed by eight councils and VicRoads.

Frustrated drivers want an end to the daily gridlock on Governor Rd, a troubled two-lane link between Springvale and Boundary roads, Mordialloc.

Carrum Patterson Lakes community forum founder Cameron Howe said the freight corridor was “choked” by local and regional drivers.

The doubling is supported by councils including Kingston and Casey.

Mr Howe said the improvement to the 3.2km link would complement the completion of the much-anticipated Mordialloc Freeway in 2023, and would see the removal of the manic three-lane roundabout at the Boundary Rd intersection.

“It’s an overdue upgrade … this deteriorating road is struggling to support freight and local traffic,” he said.

“Growing industrial parks and further developments will only exacerbate congestion …(the addition of) new traffic lights will support these developments.”

One motorist said using the Boundary Rd roundabout was risky. Picture: Chris Eastman

Heavy trucks and machinery rumble along the bumper-to-bumper strip, which stretches past Waterways, the Braeside industrial zone and eastern boundary of Mordialloc.

Mr Howe said recurring peak-hour blockages were not only a headache for motorists, but a serious safety concern which would only worsen as Braeside’s mega industrial area booms.

“The safety of motorists is undermined by potholes, poor surfacing, sunken sections and narrow single lanes shared by the freight network,” he said.

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Airconditioning and refrigeration technician Luke Norris, who works on jobs across the inner south, said passing through the “chaotic” Boundary Rd roundabout “feels like taking a risk”.

“You know there’s heaps of people behind you waiting to go and there’s no flow,” he said.

“Coming into the roundabout from Dandenong through to Mordialloc definitely feels risky.”

He said the addition of more lanes would improve congestion and also the on-road and sometimes hostile relationship between truck drivers and motorists.

“It takes forever to pass through, the road is crap and there’s heaps of trucks,” he said.

“If you don’t know how the truck drivers operate, it’s not easy to drive with them. They’re always reversing into the industrial areas and trying to cross over the two lanes.”

Carrum Patterson Lakes community forum founder Cameron Howe says Governor Rd needs to be duplicated. Picture: Chris Eastman

Mr Howe has studied the RACV ‘Red Spot’ zone for months and said he completely avoided driving in the area.

“Over the past few years, traffic has increased considerably … I avoid it, there’s trucks galore,” he said.

The campaign will ramp up around the federal budget, and is also supported by Australia’s South East Transport Strategy and the Aspendale Gardens Residents Association.

VicRoads continues to explore potential options for future upgrades to Governor Rd.

“With the rapid population growth currently occurring across Melbourne’s south and southeastern suburbs, we understand there is a need to improve and upgrade roads,” a spokesperson said.

“We continue to monitor traffic flow and safety on Governor Rd to determine the need for future improvements.”