Truck bypass works begin

By Melissa Meehan
WORKS on the much anticipated Yarra Glen truck bypass have finally begun.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas said that works had begun on the project to redirect truck traffic from the Melba Highway away from Bell Street via a new truck route to the east of the popular tourist town.
“The Federal and State Government is taking action now to invest in Victoria’s regional road network, creating jobs and providing important safety benefits for local communities,” Mr Albanese said.
“Each day more than 9000 vehicles, including 1200 trucks, travel on Bell Street through Yarra Glen.
“Much of this is through-traffic so, by diverting heavy vehicles away, we’ll reduce congestion in the main street and enhance safety for people looking to park, shop and walk in the area.”
Mr Pallas said road freight operators and their customers would also benefit from reduced travel times and transport costs as they could avoid the tourist and local traffic in the town centre.
“The southern end of the new bypass will connect via a roundabout in place of the current Melba Highway/Healesville-Yarra Glen Road intersection,” Mr Pallas said.
“The signed truck route will continue east along Healesville-Yarra Glen Road then north via the new road now under construction, which will run for 1.4 kilometres to where Old Healesville Road meets the Melba Highway.
“A new roundabout in place of this intersection will provide a safe and efficient link between the Melba Highway and the northern end of the bypass.”
Seymour MP Ben Hardman said road construction east of the town was now underway, with the roundabout works at the Melba Highway/Healesville Yarra Glen Road intersection to start early next year.
“VicRoads has been busy finalising this roundabout design in recent months, taking significant community feedback into consideration, with a final design soon to be available to the public,” Mr Hardman said.
“It’s expected that up to 100 direct and indirect jobs will be supported by the works, which will boost the community and local business still recovering from the effects of the bushfires.”
Shire of Yarra Ranges councillor Jeanette McRae welcomed the commencement of work on the Yarra Glen bypass and said she was looking forward to the improvements it would bring. “The Yarra Glen community has been advocating for a long time for better traffic management to reduce disturbance from large trucks on the main street and to make the road safer,” Cr McRae said.
“It’s great we have been able to work in partnership with the State and Federal Governments to achieve this, both for Yarra Glen and the broader community.”
VicRoads awarded the contract for the current works to BMD Constructions Pty Ltd in June.
The project is jointly funded with $9 million from the State Government, $5.5 million from the Federal Government and $500,000 from the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
The total project is scheduled for completion by late 2010.