New traffic lights are already making a difference at a former blackspot on Melton’s Ferris Road.
Last Tuesday, Planning Minister Matthew Guy, Melton mayor Bob Turner and councillors Nola Dunn and Sophie Ramsey turned on the lights at the Western Freeway interchange, until now one of Melbourne’s most hazardous intersections.
More than 21,000 cars a day use the interchange, which is one of the two entrances to Melton from the Western Freeway.
Melton highway patrol’s Senior Constable Allan Edwards said traffic conditions had improved noticeably.
“Traffic doesn’t seem to be backing up and clears quickly due to the extra turning lane being put back in place,’’ he said.
“I haven’t seen a single person going down to do a U-turn at Tabcorp Park, and it should make the intersection much safer.
“We had a fairly serious collision there a few days before the lights became operational, where a driver coming off the freeway pulled out in front of a south-bound vehicle.”
Mr Guy said the works, the first completed under the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) fund, were finished under budget and early.
“This project has been completed in response to congestion at Ferris Road, resulting in large volumes of west-bound vehicles queuing on and exiting the Western Freeway during weekday afternoons, causing delays and traffic issues.’’
Cr Turner said the upgrade had been a long time coming. “Our community has been very outspoken about this issue and the council continued to push the state government to improve road safety at this major intersection that had been seeing a lot of congestion.
“Ferris Road is one of Melton’s most important thoroughfares, linking the Western Freeway, Melton Highway and Gisborne-Melton Road.’’
