Cranbourne roadworks causing traffic chaos for drivers
Endless roadworks are making life a nightmare for thousands of residents in Melbourne’s booming southeast, with the “absolutely disgusting and poorly managed” projects slammed.
South East
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Ongoing roadworks in Melbourne’s booming southeastern suburbs are causing traffic chaos, with stressed residents at their wits’ end.
With works on “every corner” around Cranbourne and Clyde North, residents have slammed the “absolutely disgusting and poorly managed” projects, with reports school drop-offs that should take 10 minutes are now taking 30.
Drivers have been left feeling anxious and stressed by the constant works, including closures on Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road at Linsell Boulevard in Cranbourne East, which are related to Major Road Projects Victoria’s duplication of 4km of Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road from Thompson Rd to the South Gippsland Highway.
Cranbourne East resident Mick Floyd said both ends of Linsell Boulevard were now closed, with side streets now overcrowded thoroughfares.
He said it now took half an hour to get from one side of Cranbourne to the other, a trip of 4.7km.
He said the roadworks on Linsell Boulevard had been going on for 18 months and had caused all sorts of disruptions.
“All traffic is now going through residential streets which now have to support huge traffic volumes, with a number of large schools in the area,” he said.
“Whichever direction you’re going you run into significant roadworks.
“I get that it all needs to be done, and I’m sure it will be great when it’s done, but getting it all done at the same time means there are thousands of people in these estates who can’t get in and out.”
Mr Floyd said his greatest worry was access for emergency services.
“It’s an inconvenience, it’s a pain in the arse (for residents), but there was an ambo coming though yesterday, and because it was gridlocked the ambo couldn’t get through.
“If there was an emergency in these estates particularly in peak hour, you can’t get in.”
Writing on the Cranbourne Leader Facebook page, Monique said the works were “absolutely disgusting and very poorly managed”.
She said her family lived in an estate in Clyde North and her 15-20 minute trip to work in Carrum Downs now took over an hour.
“The anxiety and panic attacks all of these road works are causing me because I feel trapped is becoming very worrying, it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Kristy, who also lives in a housing estate in Clyde North, said the roadworks were impacting everyone.
“I personally have to drive through these roadworks at least four times per day as my children attend a school outside our estate,” she said.
“We all dealt with the Thompson Rd closure at the start of the year which was horrendous and now we cop this. Just doesn’t seem fair.”
Roxana said it was “absolute craziness”.
“It took me 30 minutes to just get out of my son’s school carpark and then an extra 20 minutes to get home. This should be a 10 minute drive maximum. We are locked in by one road in and out along with 100s of other people trying to use the same one lane roads.”
Thushani said the “poorly planned roadworks” were absolutely ridiculous.
“The corner of Linsell Boulevard that is connected to the Berwick-Cranbourne Road has been closed since Feb 2022. Have no idea why this small distance has taken over a year to complete.”
“We live 2.9km from school which takes us some mornings 27 minutes,” Natasha said.
“On average it has been 18 minutes. There is traffic on every corner of every road here. It’s horrible.”
“To get from Bunnings Cranbourne to the Cranbourne police took me 30mins,” Alice said.
“It’s an absolute joke! Why didn’t planning think of this before the estates were built.”
Linsell Boulevard at Narre Warren Cranbourne Road will be closed until October, with detours in place via Rochester Parade and Spirit Boulevard, Dartmoor Drive, Fernisky Drive and Trafalgar Way.
Major Road Projects Victoria also have major works ongoing in Halls Rd and Thompson Rd/ Berwick-Cranbourne Rd.
There are at least six current and upcoming major road projects in the City of Casey.
Berwick state Liberal MP Brad Battin said the delays to the Linsell Boulevard project were another blow to residents.
“This project, what should have taken a few months, is now 18 months and going into two years to upgrade this intersection,” he said.
“Because no one (council, developers and state government) wants to work together, which is quite common, it means it has been delayed, delayed, delayed which is obviously causing trouble for people trying to get in and out.”
Mr Battin said it recently took him as long to get from Clyde North to the Monash Freeway at Clyde Rd as it did to travel the entire distance along the freeway to Parliament House.
He said although he wasn’t opposed to all of the state government’s Big Build projects, it meant there were no workers or money left to do projects that would have a major impact in growth corridors.
He questioned the government’s decision to build an overpass in Beaconsfield that will go over Beaconsfield train station and said the money would be better spent elsewhere.
“No one wants it, no one needs it, it’s not a problem intersection, has never been and never will be,” he said.
“They have to spend about $150m upgrading that intersection when money should be spent on Narre Cranbourne Rd so people can get around and not be delayed every time they go out at the moment.”
Casey Council city design and construction manager Trevor Griffin acknowledged the disruptions caused by roadworks in the local community and the fatigue of ongoing roadworks for residents living in those areas.
“We are always mindful of existing roadworks when we schedule council roadworks and wherever possible, try not to add to traffic congestion,” he said.
Mr Griffin said the council project at the intersection of Berwick-Cranbourne Road and Linsell Boulevard intersection was expected to be completed by the end of October, subject to weather and traffic signal works.
“Council apologises for the inconveniences its construction works at Berwick-Cranbourne Rd have caused and appreciates the understanding and patience of the communities impacted by the construction works at either end of Linsell Boulevard,” he said.
“We are working with our contractor and Department of Transport and Planning to bring works forward to re-establish left-in left-out traffic movement on the Berwick Cranbourne Road as soon as possible.”
A state government spokesperson said it was getting on with delivering the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road upgrade, building extra lanes and upgrading the intersection to slash congestion.
“We are getting rid of every level crossing on Frankston, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines and upgrading vital suburban roads to cut congestion in growing areas of Melbourne.
“While some disruption will take place Victorians understand the importance of these projects,” the spokesperson said.
