Lane closure, parking loss to hit Beach Rd over summer after Bay Trail finish date pushed back

Plans to shut a lane and reduce parking along busy Beach Rd at the height of summer to finish the controversial Bay Trail between Mentone and Parkdale have been blasted as “ludicrous and unsafe”, with road users furious at the timing. TAKE POLL

Busy Beach Rd users will endure nine months of disruption over the already hectic summer period.

Beach Rd motorists and cyclists can expect nine months of pain as a section of the busy thoroughfare is reduced to a single lane city-bound and parking is restricted.

And the disruption — to finish the controversial Kingston Bay Trail from

Mentone LSC to Rennison St, Parkdale — will begin at the start of the hectic summer period when thousands head for the beach.

Kingston Council said the lane would not be closed until 9.30am and has promised a Christmas and New Year shutdown of the work to limit disruption to beachgoers, but resident Rob Luker slammed the timing of the lane closure as “ludicrous and unsafe”.

The completion date for the delay-plagued project has been pushed back by more than five months. It was expected to be completed late this year but is now scheduled to finish in June 2020.

Sandringham state Liberal MP Brad Rowswell said taking on the works during the hotter months “would put lives at risk” and demanded construction be pushed back to March or April to avoid the summer rush.

“The first best option is to not do it at all, and the second best option is to postpone it until after summer,” he said.

“Over the warmer months, there is a massive increase in presence of tourists, cyclists and pedestrians. To undertake these works during this time is madness and unsafe.

“As for the lane closure before 9.30am … I’ll believe that when I see it.”

But Kingston Council City Assets and Environment general manager Daniel Freer said the time frame followed VicRoads’ requirements, which aimed to minimise the impact on road users by avoiding peak traffic times.

The work to finish the Bay Trail will take nine months, affecting sailing clubs including the Parkdale Yacht Club. Picture: Chris Eastman

Council could not confirm tools down time, but the Leader believes it could be up to 7.30pm on weeknights.

They also could not specify how many weekends would be interrupted by the works.

“With nine months required to complete the project there is unfortunately no way to avoid the warmer weather at some point of the year,” Mr Freer said.

“The project has been timed to avoid the most disruptive works in peak times …(there will be) a full shutdown of works during the peak Christmas/New Year period (to) minimise

impact on beach visitors.”

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The trail will link Mentone and Mordialloc with a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians, but cyclists can still choose to ride on Beach Rd.

There will be no stopping signs — between 6am and 10am — erected along the road to minimise traffic congestion.

No lanes will be lost as a result of the project, however active driving lanes could be reduced to as little as two if outside lanes are used as shared parking and driving zones.

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Rob Luker, who has lived on Beach Rd at Parkdale for more than 30 years, said the foreshore was under enough stress as it was during school holiday time.

Mr Luker said he was sick of waiting up to five minutes to make a right turn across traffic to get into his driveway.

“Closing for a few days over Christmas isn’t good enough … parking and traffic flow is critical over December, January, February and March,” he said.

“On a hot day, people come from all areas to enjoy our beach … there’s thousands of cyclists too. Completing a project like this at this time is ludicrous and unsafe.”

The removal of about one hectare of vegetation is scheduled to start in the coming weeks with the remaining job — including path works and road resurfacing — set to commence in November and finish in June next year.