Canterbury Road upgrades under threat as federal government runs review

Drivers sick of being stuck in traffic in the outer east could face more pain, with planned congestion-busting projects – expected to start in weeks – under threat.

Traffic in Canterbury Rd Montrose. Photo: Daniel Pockett

Motorists sick of being stuck in traffic in the outer east could face more pain, with a planned upgrade of Canterbury Rd – set to start in just weeks – under threat.

There are fears a plan to widen the road and remove the Montrose roundabout and install traffic lights may now not go ahead, as the federal government reviews a number of planned infrastructure projects.

These include a $47m project, expected to start in mid-2023, to widen Canterbury Rd from two lanes to three lanes in each direction from Dorset Rd in Bayswater North to Liverpool Rd Montrose.

The works were also set to include installing pedestrian operated signals and constructing a shared user path on the south side of Canterbury Rd, east of Liverpool Rd.

The project is expected to reduce congestion and travel time.

The second $20m project would upgrade Canterbury Rd between Dorset Rd and Montrose Rd and would remove the existing Montrose roundabout and install traffic signals at the intersection of Canterbury Rd, Montrose Rd and Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd.

Casey federal Liberal MP Aaron Violi has written to the federal government asking for clarity on the future of the two projects.

Deakin federal Liberal MP Michael Sukkar is also petitioning for the Tortice Drive/Warrandyte Road intersection upgrade in Ringwood North to be saved.

The federal government is also reviewing the planned $20m upgrade of Maroondah Highway, Coldstream.

Mr Violi said the Canterbury Rd upgrades were badly needed and he was “deeply frustrated” to hear they may not go ahead, when work was about to start.

“It’s been a long time coming, particularly the Montrose roundabout, it has undergone significant community consultation to make sure that it meets the needs of the community,” he said.

“We’re literally weeks and months away from it starting so it is deeply frustrating there is a delay and the potential for the money to be taken away.

“As soon as (the review) was announced I had residents in Montrose ringing me frustrated and angry about the delay and potential loss of this much-needed infrastructure investment.”

Mr Violi said motorists from all over Yarra Ranges used busy Canterbury Rd.

“It’s not just the community of Montrose that will benefit (from the upgrades).

“Many community members from the Upper Yarra and Yarra Valley use Canterbury Rd as a way to get to work and get home from work.

“And for many businesses it’s a thoroughfare for them.

“It’s impacting residents all across the outer east and across my electorate which is why we’re so frustrated with this delay and possible cancellation.”

One of the projects under review is a plan to remove the Montrose roundabout and replace it with traffic lights. Picture: Josie Hayden

If the projects don’t go ahead it will be another blow for motorists in the outer east, after the federal government scrapped $300m funding to seal dirt roads in Cardinia Shire and Yarra Ranges, $110m for the Wellington Rd duplication, $50m for an upgrade of Napoleon Rd between Lysterfield Rd and Kelletts Rd in Rowville and a $475m rail line to link Monash University’s Caulfield and Clayton campuses (the first stage of Rowville Rail).

A spokeswoman for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister, Catherine King said the previous government left the $120 billion infrastructure investment pipeline “in a total mess” – backed-up with projects that were announced without the support of states or territories, poorly scoped, underfunded at the outset, or designed simply to win votes.

“It is very clear the pipeline is in disrepair and is not sustainable, which is why a 90-day review will inform the Government about which projects are able to be delivered, and how much they will actually cost,” the spokesperson said.

“This is a genuine review without any savings target – we have recommitted to the $120 billion pipeline.

“This review, which has the co-operation of the states and territories will look at what projects are still priorities for the Commonwealth, states and territories.”

The review will look at Infrastructure Investment Program projects that are not currently under construction and were not election commitments of the Albanese Government.