A north-east freeway link would create mayhem on Boroondara roads according to the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA). “A freeway ending right on Boroondara’s doorstep will dump many more cars on our roads,” said PTUA spokesman Jeremy Lunn.
“Roads such as Burke Road, Bulleen Road, Doncaster Road, High Street and Balwyn Road would become traffic sewers. Home owners will pay the true price as property values plummet from all the extra traffic.
“Residents can also look forward to a towering spaghetti junction at the intersection of Bulleen Road and Eastern Freeway. This would potentially obstruct the existing reservation for the Doncaster railway line and result in an unknown number of property acqusitions.
“After the north-east freeway is completed, the next logical step from a Vicroads’ perspective is a freeway through Camberwell to Oakleigh as they’ve already hinted at with their leaked 2040 plan. They’ll use all the extra traffic dumped by the north-east freeway as a case study to argue for further freeway expansion.
“A secret plan has been revealed for the further widening of the Eastern Freeway between Chandler Hwy and Springvale Road, which is likely to involve further compulsory property acqusitions.”
Mr Lunn said that public transport is the only solution that will ease pressure on Boroondara roads.
“We need a railway line to Doncaster, upgraded bus services in the north of Boroondara, better bus links across the Yarra and the extension of the 48 tram to Doncaster Hill.
“Trams and buses in Boroondara are also in need of much better traffic light priority. The average tram speed is 14km/h [1] and will slow to a snail’s pace if a north-east freeway goes ahead. The 72 tram on Burke Rd already has the poorest on time running performance of any route in the Melbourne tram network. [2]
“We don’t need a $20 billion white elephant such as the north-east freeway link. It’s time to invest in real transport solutions.”
[1] Average travel speeds by public transport:
http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/doi/internet/planningprojects.nsf/AllDocs/D12830C9DF1D226ACA257420007FDE9E?OpenDocument
[2] Vicroads Traffic Monitor 2008/2009, p.8
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/E1668C50-07D7-4F32-AA62-B6B719FF7097/0/VRPIN02720_Traffic_Monitor_2008_09.pdf