By Esther Lauaki
Brookfield residents and Melton council have renewed calls for a full diamond interchange to be built at Bulmans Road to ease congestion in Melton West.
Tim Roberts, of the Brookfield 3338 residents group, said works had been mapped out for a number of years but there has been no progress.
“When we moved into Brookfield there was a proposed full diamond interchange … but nothing has happened in six and a half years since it was mapped out,” Mr Roberts said.
“I’m always hearing people complaining about the traffic problems and accidents happening as people try to get onto the freeway through Coburns Road because of all the new development at Atherstone and surrounding areas.
“A large number of residents that we have spoken to had expressed the frustration with having to drive two kilometres in the wrong direction to travel westbound on the Western Freeway.
“Come school times, when your trying to get onto the freeway, traffic can be backed up for two to three hundred metres.”
An online petition calling for the installation of a full diamond freeway interchange on the Western Freeway at Bulmans and Clarkes roads has attracted more than 3500 signatures in three weeks.
“This would reduce the amount of traffic on Coburns Road and High Street considerably with the estates in Melton West, Harkness and Brookfield growing bigger and bigger,” Mr Roberts said.
Melton council engineering services manager Sam Romaszko said an interchange at Bulmans/Clarkes roads was high on the council’s wish list.
“Council considers the construction of an interchange at Bulmans Road/Clarkes Road as a high priority, and continues to advocate to the state and federal governments for this project and broader upgrades along the Western Highway corridor,” Ms Romaszko said.
“The Western Highway is the primary transport link between the municipality and the inner suburbs of Melbourne and is vital for providing our residents with access to employment and education, as well as being the main transport route between Melbourne and Adelaide.
“A new interchange at Bulmans Road/Clarkes Road would provide residents of Melton West and Brookfield with more direct access to the Western Highway and help to reduce congestion at the Coburns Road interchange, as well as adjacent roads.”
VicRoads has been contacted for comment.
Details: www.brookfield.org.au
