RACV Redspot Survey 2018: Vote for the most congested road in Melbourne

Which roads do you dread driving on? Using state-of-the-art technology, RACV has identified the 10 most traffic-choked thoroughfares. Does the street that slows down your daily commute make the list?

RACV has used state of the art technology to identify the 10 most congested roads in Melbourne.

Over a three-month period sensors fitted into vehicles travelling throughout Victoria captured real-time data indicating roads where traffic decelerated to a snail’s pace.

In some 60km/h areas congestion slowed motorists to 20km/h or less, the sensors revealed.

The data also showed peak travel times had stretched from “peak hour” 7.30-8.30am to 6.30-9am in the morning, while the afternoon peak was 3-6.30pm extended from 5-6pm.

Leader Community News is once again teaming up with RACV and 7 News and asking our readers to vote in the 2018 Redspot Survey.

The research identified 10 congested sites and RACV wants people to vote for the worst among them. They are:

Back-to-back traffic on Barkly St Footscray. Picture: Rebecca David

BARKLY ST FOOTSCRAY

The stretch between Donald and Droop streets, which runs through the busy Footscray shopping precinct where parking, roads traffic and cyclists share the same space.

The average speed in off-peak times is 37km/h, but just 14km/h during peak times.

KINGSWAY SOUTHBANK

Between the Westgate Freeway and York St, nearly 100,000 cars and trucks are funneled to and from the southeastern suburbs each day.

The average speed during off-peak is 49km/h and 18km/h during peak times.

Choked Kings Way in Southbank. Picture: Josie Hayden

ALEXANDRA PARADE, CLIFTON HILL

The section between Charlotte and Wellington streets carries traffic between the Eastern Freeway, CityLink and the western and northeastern suburbs.

The average off-peak speed is 52km/h compared with 20km/h during peak times.

WESTERN RING RD, ARDEER

The stretch between Western Highway and Sunshine Ave carries well over 100,000 vehicles each day.

The Ardeer section of the road has rated as one of Melbourne’s busiest stretches, despite being upgraded in 2013.

The sections either side (extending to the Princes Freeway to the south and Calder Freeway to the north are being upgraded with planned completions in late 2020 and late 2018.

The average speed slows from 90km/h to 35km/h during peak times.

THOMPSONS RD, LYNDHURST

Between Taylors Rd and Dandenong-Hastings Hwy, the roundabout is a source of long delays and queues back to Taylors Rd.

The Thompsons Rd upgrade, which will include signalisation of the roundabout, is expected to be completed by mid-2019.

The average speed slows from 76km/h to 30km/h during peak times.

Have you been delayed on the Western Ring Rd in Ardeer?

UPPER HEIDELBERG RD IVANHOE

The road between Kenilworth Parade and Waterdale Rd runs through the Ivanhoe shopping strip, and the average speed slows from 46km/h to 18km/h during peak times.

It remains to be seen what effect the level crossing removal at Lower Plenty Rd will have on this congested road.

HIGH ST EPPING

Through the stretch from Park St to O’Herns Rd, the single-lane roundabout at High St has long struggled to cope with increasing traffic in Melbourne’s growing north.

As part of the O’Herns Rd upgrade, the roundabout will be signalised. The average speed cam slow from 55km/h to 22km/h during peak times.

ROSANNA RD HEIDELBERG

This road between Darebin and Burgundy streets has long been on RACV Redspot lists.The last state Budget included $3.12 million to reduce congestion and improve safety.

The average speed slows from 51km/h to 20km/h during peak times.

Do you get stuck at this Rosanna Rd intersection? Picture: Stuart Milligan

MALVERN RD TOORAK

The busy Malvern Rd shopping strip between Westbourne St and Williams Rd struggles to accommodate shoppers, public transport and cyclists.

The average speed can slow from 40km/h to 17km/h during peak times.

BURKE RD BALWYN NORTH

The road narrows from four to two lanes between the Eastern Freeway and The Boulevard, creating a frustrating pinch point.

The average speed slows from 66km/h to 27km/h during peak times.

Have your say

RACV roads and traffic manager Dave Jones said they wanted to hear from all road users — drivers, motorbike and bike riders, public transport users and pedestrians.

He urged motorists to cast their votes online for Melbourne’s worst roads.

He said the RACV had compiled an accurate map of Melbourne’s worst bottlenecks.

“This method uses actual travel data providing a more rigorous way of determining where there is the most congestion,” Mr Jones said.

“If there are other congested roads you’d like to report to VicRoads or your council, you can nominate a site once you have voted from the list.”

The results will be analysed and released ahead of the November State Election.

Cast your vote for Melbourne’s most congested site at redspotsurvey.com.au