Dandenong business lobby against Progress St level crossing removal
People normally want the government to spend more money on big projects but these Dandenong businesses are demanding the opposite for a project they believe could be deadly.
South East
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Traders locked in a fight with a major project in Melbourne’s southeast have demanded it go back to the drawing board to avoid “losing lives”.
Businesses at an industrial patch in Dandenong have requested the level crossing closure at Progress St be suspended due to concerns the government’s proposal for a detour could see commuters and businesses harmed.
The project involves permanently closing the Progress St crossing and diverting traffic via a new bridge to Fowler Rd.
But nearby businesses have slammed the Fowler Rd diversion, which they believe will not be able to support the increased traffic and provide a safe route onto the freeway.
Andrew Hamer, whose business Pakaflex is located next to the level crossing, said the plan was dangerous.
“It will put a huge volume of over-dimensional and heavy trucks and postie bicycles crossing 30 heavy goods driveways on a narrow twisty road. It is dangerous and will result in deaths or injuries,” he said.
“I am dumbfounded that we have been presenting these major safety issues to the government and they have been sidestepped. Unfortunately, the rerouting down Fowler Rd is intrinsically unsafe and we just need a better solution, like the overpasses or underpasses that Daniel Andrews said they were doing”.
Mr Hamer’s neighbour Colin Smith from JDN Monocrane said the proposal has “the very real potential to take lives”.
Mr Smith’s business transports cranes up to 45m long which he said would be “impossible” with the closure of Progress St.
The businesses say the crossing has “never been dangerous” and that traffic at the “windy” 9.5m wide Fowler Rd — which has about 30 heavy goods driveways — would become “unbearable” with cars, trucks and motorcyclists needing to coexist.
According to LXRP statistics, Progress St had nearly double the amount of vehicles turning onto the Princes Highway every day in comparison to vehicles turning from Fowler Rd onto the South Gippsland Highway.
At afternoon peak times about 79 vehicles turn left from Fowler Rd onto the South Gippsland Highway, while more than 220 turn left from Progress St onto the Princes Highway.
Nick Fazzolari, from Rapid Aluminium, said all these vehicles being funnelled into Fowler Rd “will be nuts”.
“Safety is a real issue and it can’t be guaranteed for, not for trucks, cars, bikes or pedestrians,” he said.
“It will go from Fowler Rd having 2000 vehicles on it per day to over 7000 and it’s significantly more narrow and curved.
“I am very concerned that trucks leaving or entering our business on the corner of South Gippsland Highway won’t be able to do that safely or regularly”.
A temporary detour road will also be built connecting Hallam Valley Rd, which turns onto the South Gippsland Highway, to Nathan Rd via property owned by Australia Post.
This detour was also slammed as a “goat track” and “dangerous” by nearby businesses.
One of the solutions businesses have put forward to improve access is for Progress St to be connected to the Dandenong bypass when it gets built, which Dandenong Council said it would lobby for.
Peuker & Alexander managing director Peter Alexander said concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
“I feel that they are treating the consultation process like any other on the train line and have failed to understand the unique circumstances and the ramifications associated with the closure of Progress St,” he said.
Last week a petition which gained 756 signatures within 24 hours that demanded the project be suspended was presented in the Legislative Assembly.
Mr Hamer discovered under freedom of information from the Office of National Railway Safety Regulator, which was seen by the Herald Sun, that the level crossing was deemed as “negligible” and “low” risks during an evaluation of the site completed in August and September 2020 respectively.
EDMI general manager Cameron Bower said “the solution proposed has far more risk and impact than the current situation”.
The businesses have also raised safety concerns for the postal workers travelling on bikes to and from the Australia Post letter centre around the corner at Nathan Rd.
An Australia Post spokesperson said it has "raised concerns around potential safety and traffic issues" with the LXRP.
"As with all mail processing facilities, our Dandenong Letter Centre has specific operational and logistical needs, and we have provided LXRP with detailed information to inform their planning process," the spokesperson said.
A government spokesperson said: “We’re closing the dangerous Progress St level crossing in Dandenong South and building a new road bridge connecting to Fowler Rd, ensuring the busy industrial precinct remains linked to nearby major arterial roads and removing the risk of incidents.”
“We have been talking with local businesses as part of the planning for the project including via face-to-face and online meetings, letters, phone calls, and local business surveys, and will continue to work closely with the community as the project progresses.
“We haven’t wasted a moment removing 70 dangerous and congested level crossings, getting Victorians home sooner and making our roads safer”.
The contract for the level crossing removal was awarded to Fulton Hogan Construction, Metro Trains and the Level Crossing Removal Project.
