THERE remains a plethora of viable ways to alleviate traffic problems in Bacchus Marsh, according to the Avenue Preservation Group.
The group met with councillors, including mayor Pat Griffin, council chief executive Rob Croxford and planning staff last Wednesday to discuss their preferred solutions and hand over a “wealth of knowledge and expertise”.
President Damian Strangio said it was of “considerable concern” to the group that council claimed there were no suitable truck bypass options other than the Woolpack Road proposal, which was rejected by Planning Minister Matthew Guy on Australia Day.
The works would have involved removing five memorial elm trees.
Dr Strangio said a Fisken Street plan, flagged as one of several alternatives by the government and VicRoads this month and involving the demolition of 16 homes, was “completely unnecessary and disastrous”.
“Woolpack Road was never a solution to this traffic,” Dr Strangio said, adding that improvements to Halletts Way were a better option, while an upgrade of the eastern interchange was the second preferred option at Heritage Victoria meetings held last June.
“Council and VicRoads have continued to say the eastern access ramp should be closed for safety. Why not simply upgrade and improve it?”
Cr Griffin maintained the biggest traffic concern was trucks and construction vehicles using the Bacchus Marsh CBD and Avenue of Honour.
“They refuse to accept we need a truck bypass. There are over 140,000 truck movements on Grant Street each year,” he said.
Cr Griffin said council was working on upgrades to Halletts Way to ease local traffic congestion, but it would not solve the burden.
“Upgrading the eastern interchange doesn’t take trucks off the avenue or off Main Street.”
VicRoads major projects director George Mavroyeni said all options were being looked at.
“Until an alternative option is developed, the current interim access arrangements will remain to provide access into and out of Bacchus Marsh.”
