Thornhill Park residents are calling for Alfred Road to be partially reopened to ease the suburb’s growing traffic chaos.
Alfred Road is closed between Buckingham Boulevard and Mount Cottrell Road for 15 weeks until Friday, December 5, for works to upgrade the road to an urban standard and significantly improve safety and the condition of the road for residents and other road users.
The upgrades are being completed by a developer.
Melton council said it has worked with the developer to limit the length of the road closure, with detours in place via the Western Highway or Exford Road for the duration of the works.
But Thornhill Park residents say the lengthy closure is increasing travel times and impacting school bus services and the suburb’s FlexiRide service.
Community advocate Matt Pearse said Thornhill Park’s 11,200 residents were being forced onto already jammed roads as a result of the closure.
“The prolonged closure of Alfred Road will put more undue pressure on residents trying to go about their daily commute and put more pressure on the already over capacity Ferris-Leakes Road overpasses,” Mr Pearse said.
A local Facebook group, Thornhill Park Residents, has been flooded by residents complaining about the impact of closure, with numerous reports of extensive traffic delays and cancelled bus services, while some comments spoke about the detours adding 45 minutes to a school run, trip to the train station or visit to the supermarket.
Mr Pearse said residents were hopeful Alfred Road could partially reopen to ensure residents could get around more easily.
Star Weekly understands that the works are being carried out by Land x Wise, the developer of Cobble Springs. The company was contacted for comment.
In a social media statement on Friday, Melton council said undertaking the works while the road remained open was not possible.
Council said it understood the works were causing a great deal of frustration to the community and it was working with the developer to minimise the impacts.
Council said it would install temporary traffic lights at the Exford Road and Griegs Road intersection, reduce the speed limit to 40km/h at both sides of Exford Road, Weir Views, and reduce the speed limit to 40km/h approaching the intersection of Greigs Road, Weir Views, in a bid to improve safety and traffic flow.
“Council staff will continue to be on-site monitoring the road work to assess impact on safety and travel times,” the statement said.
According to council, the Alfred Road works have been scheduled to avoid future closures of Ferris Road, which is expected later this year as part of the project to remove the level crossing.
A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said the Flexride service remains available but is impacted by the closure.
Flexiride services operating between Thornhill Park and Cobblebank Station will detour via the Western Freeway during the works, adding travel time to journeys.
“Flexiride passengers in the Thornhill Park area can continue to access the service during the Alfred Road works,” the Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said.
“Passengers are advised to plan ahead and allow extra travel time while Alfred Road is closed to traffic.”
To stay up-to-date with news related to the Alfred Road closure, visit: melton.vic.gov.au/roadworks
