THE state government has mooted a new plan for an eastern interchange at Bacchus Marsh which could lead to an alignment being built along the Werribee River and possible destruction of a plantation of shady river red gums.
On Monday, Roads Minister Terry Mulder released plans showing several corridors could be built to alleviate the town’s traffic woes.
A map shows a number of possible options will be seriously investigated, including an update of the current eastern interchange and construction of a new freeway interchange.
A number of new connections have also been flagged.
Mr Mulder confirmed that the Fisken Street option, which could have meant the demolition of up to 16 homes, would not be pursued.
Avenue of Honour member Digby Thackeray’s suggestion last year to create a southern bypass looping under the Avenue of Honour to the Werribee River Bridge, nicknamed ‘Strawberry Fields’, has been included on the government’s state map.
Another possible route extends below it, south of the Werribee River.
Mr Thackeray said he presented his model to the council, VicRoads and Heritage Victoria last year and “got the brush-off”.
Under his plan, the eastern interchange would be upgraded to a diamond shape.
“This would take all bypass traffic off the avenue; the dangerous T-intersection at the Western Highway will be eliminated and no elms would be destroyed,” he said.
“What puzzles me is that the council never mentions the upgrade of the Eastern Interchange as an option and keeps misleading people by mentioning Fisken Street as the only alternative to Woolpack Road.
”This is completely disingenuous as Fisken Street was ruled out years ago.”
Mr Mulder said the community would be heavily consulted with every option, and federal funding remained for the project.
Preservation Group president Damian Strangio said it was “tremendous” a decision had been made which would prevent the destruction of the historic elm trees fringing the Avenue of Honour.
Mayor Pat Griffin said the council was satisfied the government was “moving forward”, and with funding allocated for on and off ramps at Halletts Way.
“We welcome more consultation; this is a step forward,” he said.
However, Push Back For Woolpack president Malcolm Trask said the realignment option would not solve the town’s truck problems.
“We’ll continue to push for Woolpack. It doesn’t provide any more south access, it really only deals with the interchange. It doesn’t remove the heavy vehicles from town,” he said.
“This town needs its truck problem solved.”
“There are 165 river gums down there, some over 800 years old.”
He said tourism along the avenue’s fruit stalls could dwindle with an absence of traffic flowing along it.
Tripod farm owner Frank Russo, whose successful produce farm would border the new road, said he had not been briefed about the plan.
“I have a very valuable business and no one has spoken to me,” he said.
