By Gladys Barreta
Melton council is using the federal election as an opportunity to urgently call on major parties to commit to upgrading local roads for improved safety.
Council’s ‘Let’s Get the City of Melton Moving’ campaign represents a united push for investment in three major roads urgently in need of upgrades.
Melton Highway, Hopkins Road, and the Palmers Road corridor (including Robinsons Road, Westwood Drive, and Calder Park Drive) are at the top of the priority list, with residents fed up with unsafe and congested roads.
Mt Atkinson resident Jaksha, who travels Hopkins Road twice a day during peak times for school drop-off in Truganina, said she feels unsafe driving along the single-lane road and witnesses accidents almost daily.
“There are so many cars and trucks travelling along such a narrow road. There are also school buses, and as a mother, I am concerned for the safety of the children travelling in those buses on such a dangerous road,” she said.
Hopkins Road currently carries approximately 28,000 vehicles per day – double its recommended capacity, according to council.
This is projected to increase to 51,000 vehicles per day by 2031.
In the past five years, there have been two fatalities along that stretch of road and 104 injuries, 24 of which were classified as serious.
The Melton Highway has recorded 83 injuries in the same timeframe, including 29 serious injuries.
Meanwhile, the Palmers Road Corridor has recorded one fatality and 148 injuries, with 39 classified as serious.
Melton mayor Steve Abboushi said these key roads were in urgent need of upgrades, including duplication to improve safety and traffic flow.
“While we are grateful for the funding commitments to upgrade the Western Highway and the commitment for the Calder Park interchange, there’s still a lot more investment needed for our community,” he said.
“The reality is, we need more investment in roads right across the city to help people drive around safely.”
