Residents see red over traffic lights
FRUSTRATION is growing among Grovedale residents over a set of new traffic lights that have been sitting idle for months.
The lights at the intersection of Pioneer Rd and Meadowvale Drive were installed three months ago but are yet to be activated.
A longstanding roundabout was removed to make way for the lights, with VicRoads previously declaring it would make it easier and safer for drivers to access the two roads.
But locals say the current situation is more dangerous than ever, with cars on Pioneer Rd not required to slow down when Drive.
Rita Nelson has lived in the area for 20 years and regularly uses Meadowvale Drive to turn into Pioneer Rd, which is a busy thoroughfare connecting Colac Rd to Surf Coast Hwy.
“It is an accident waiting to happen,” Ms Nelson said.
“Drivers are doing 60km/h along Pioneer Rd when they get to Meadowvale Drive, whereas when there was the roundabout, they couldn’t be coming at that speed because it would’ve stopped them.”
Fellow resident Graeme Sobey said: “It’s more dangerous now than it was with the roundabout because people don’t slow down, they just go passing Meadowvale straight through.”
The lights upgrade formed part of a $12 million project to duplicate Pioneer Rd, which was aimed at easing congestion along the busy stretch.
Driver safety is not the only issue locals are raising; they are also annoyed about the inability to make right-hand turns onto Pioneer Rd or into Meadowvale Drive.
Ms Nelson said she was regularly forced to perform Uturns at other sections of Pioneer Rd to get to her destinations.
“We had to do that during the roadworks, which we understood and accepted, but it’s just ridiculous that we still have to do it while the lights are sitting there this long with- out being activated,” she said.
VicRoads regional director Mark Koliba did not explain the cause of the delay but said activation should happen in the coming weeks.
“Work is progressing on the programming and power connection needed for the new lights and we are looking forward to turning them on in mid-April,” he said.
South Barwon state Liberal MP Andrew Katos took aim at Roads Minister Luke Donnellan, accusing him of failing to resolve the issue earlier.
“It’s not good enough,” he said. “The local community is sick of it and they just want to see these lights switched on and not see further excuses from the minister.”
But Mr Donnellan said installing new signals was a detailed process . “We expect the new traffic lights to be switched on within weeks,” he said.