Maroondah Highway intersection in Croydon and Canterbury Rd in Heathmont set for $9.3 million cash injection

CONGESTED, dangerous roads in Croydon and Heathmont will get a multi-million dollar cash injection, if the Federal Government is re-elected.

Dorset Rd Croydon near Maroondah Highway intersection.

TWO congested and dangerous roads in Croydon and Heathmont will get long-awaited multi-million dollar cash injections, if the Federal Government is re-elected.

Road users have long complained of their frustration about traffic congestion at the Maroondah Highway/Dorset Rd intersection in Croydon, which has been promised $8 million for right-turning lanes from the highway onto Exeter and Dorset roads.

Dorset Rd will also be duplicated from Maroondah Highway to the new estate, stretching about 800 metres.

In a 2014 Leader RACV Red Spot Survey road users found the intersection was one of the most annoying locations in Maroondah. Of those surveyed, 60 per cent of respondents said the traffic nightmare made them “frustrated”, and about 51 per cent said they tried to find alternative routes (Leader, July 22, 2014).

VicRoads data at the survey time showed the intersection, which also receives traffic from Bellara Drive and Exeter Rd, was the second-worst area for traffic congestion during peak afternoon hours in Victoria.

Deakin federal Liberal MP Michael Sukkar said 19 million cars drove through the intersection each year — and traffic was growing.

“When (people want to turn right into Dorset Rd), they wait about five to seven sets of lights ... They’re waiting six to eight minutes and we want to get that down to two minutes,” Mr Sukkar said.

He said several frustrated residents and traders had contacted him about the problem.

“(The intersection) is unable to cope with the increase in traffic ... and that causes people to do silly things.”

The Liberal Government has also promised a $1.2 million upgrade at Canterbury Rd in Heathmont to help with traffic flow and access.

Mr Sukkar said it would help the dozens of traders, drivers and pedestrians who used the site.

“That whole access is going to be changed and you will no longer have traffic marooned waiting to get to the shops,” Mr Sukkar said.

Two black spot projects will also go ahead at Maroondah Highway and Dunlavin Rd, and Bedford and Canterbury roads.

Mr Sukkar said while he would continue advocating for East West Link, fixing congestion on local roads was “just important” in making the area more liveable.

Labor candidate Tony Clark has been contacted for comment.