Cardinia Shire Council is calling for urgent upgrades to dangerous intersections along the Princes Highway between Nar Nar Goon and Longwarry.
Council is seeking $25 million to develop a business case for construction of four grade separated interchanges along this busy stretch of highway, which carries approximately 30,000 vehicles per day between Nar Nar Goon and Bunyip.
Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Jack Kowarzik said significant improvements to road design were needed to ensure visitors and locals arrive at their destinations safely and on time.
"The current intersections are known for near misses and accidents and do not include slip lanes or overpasses, forcing vehicles entering the highway to pull out in front of oncoming traffic," Mayor Kowarzik said.
"Cars turning right to enter or exit the highway are forced to cross two lanes of traffic with oncoming traffic travelling up to 100 kilometres per hour, posing a significant safety risk for motorists.
"The wide median treatment of these intersections is incredibly outdated, and such intersections are known for posing major safety issues. This is further exacerbated by increasing traffic volumes and more visitors to the shire who are unfamiliar with the intersections."
Mayor Kowarzik said speed reductions along the Princes Highway were an interim measure only, and that a permanent solution was urgently needed.
"These dangerous intersections on this major thoroughfare are well overdue to be replaced with grade separated interchanges to improve safety. The reduction of the speed limit from 100km/h to 80km/h is a short-term, temporary solution – what we need is a permanent solution to ensure the safety of our community and visitors to our shire, and to support freight logistics.
"Unfortunately, since 2017, there have been more than 115 road collisions along this 30-kilometre stretch of road, sadly including four fatalities."
Mayor Kowarzik said Council's priority was to ensure the safety of the community.
"We're seeking support from all levels of government to make intersections along this stretch of Princes Highway between Nar Nar Goon and Longwarry safer for our community and visitors to our shire.
"As the population grows, so does the amount of traffic on this road. The intersection upgrades will address major safety issues that exist in the current road design and would take into consideration future growth in Cardinia and Baw Baw shires.
"We're seeking funding from all levels of government to deliver a business case and masterplan that outlines the safest and most effective solutions to the current intersections linking Nar Nar Goon, Tynong, Garfield, Bunyip and Longwarry to the Princes Highway."
