On a road to nowhere
A ROAD to nowhere on Geelong’s outskirts continues to attract traffic five years after it was superseded by a dual carriageway.
Waurn Ponds Drive is the new name of what was once part of the Princes Highway, the gateway to Geelong’s southwestern suburbs.
Then prime minister Julia Gillard officially opened the final stretch between the Ring Road and Princes Highway West in February 2013.
The thoroughfare meant the end of the treacherous entrance to Geelong soon after, with VicRoads cutting off the road metres from the freeway near the Draytons Rd corner.
Despite the roadblock, dozens of cars and even the odd truck head along the old high- way with the hope of ending up in Colac or Warrnambool.
In 20 minutes yesterday, the Geelong Advertiser saw eight cars head to the road’s dead-end and travel back.
Ray’s Rainbow Fruit and Veg owner Ray Dolan said a string of classic cars recently chugged up the old highway only to find they were five years behind the times.
“We get people most days stopping by after getting lost, then they buy some fruit or veg here, and we tell them the right direction,” Mr Dolan said.
“Maybe it’s old car Navmans (navigation systems) or an old Melways or something. A lot of the time, it’s tourists trying to head to the Great Ocean Road or down Warrnambool way.”
The latest Melway online includes the new freeway and altered Colac Rd, while Google Maps and Bing Maps have updated directions.
VicRoads has erected signs highlighting the altered route.
Waurn Ponds resident Shane Clark said there was often an increase in lost commuters on public holidays.
Police have stepped up patrols of the road, curbing hoon behaviour along the one-way road. Unmarked patrols have also been used to catch people illegally dumping rubbish.