The need

The current intersections do not include slip lanes or overpasses, forcing vehicles entering the highway to pull out in front of oncoming traffic. Cars turning right to enter or exit the highway are forced to cross two lanes of traffic with oncoming traffic travelling up to 100 km/h.

The lack of slip lanes or an overpass and limited space for vehicles to queue when giving way in the highway median strip means that traffic builds up easily, resulting in rushed and frustrated drivers who are more likely to make mistakes when entering the highway. This compounds the danger and will only get worse as the population of the surrounding areas continues to grow.

The result of this is four avoidable fatalities and 56 serious injuries since 2012. This is in addition to over 100 minor injuries and countless near misses.

The fast-tracked development of Pakenham East will see approximately 20,000 new residents moving to Cardinia Shire in the coming years. At the same time, the population of towns along the Princes Highway in both Cardinia and Baw Baw shires continues to grow.

The plan

The current intersections do not include slip lanes or overpasses, forcing vehicles entering the highway to pull out in front of oncoming traffic. Cars turning right to enter or exit the highway are forced to cross two lanes of traffic with oncoming traffic travelling up to 100 km/h.

The lack of slip lanes or an overpass and limited space for vehicles to queue when giving way in the highway median strip means that traffic builds up easily, resulting in rushed and frustrated drivers who are more likely to make mistakes when entering the highway. This compounds the danger and will only get worse as the population of the surrounding areas continues to grow.

The result of this is four avoidable fatalities and 56 serious injuries since 2012. This is in addition to over 100 minor injuries and countless near misses.

The fast-tracked development of Pakenham East will see approximately 20,000 new residents moving to Cardinia Shire in the coming years. At the same time, the population of towns along the Princes Highway in both Cardinia and Baw Baw shires continues to grow.

Council will partner with the other 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.

These plans will then be used to deliver the new interchanges with the support of the Commonwealth and State governments.

The Victorian Government has already trialed reduced speed zones around the current intersections. Council is now calling on both the Victorian and Australian governments to help us plan and deliver a permanent solution.

Benefits to the community

These intersections are known for near misses and accidents. Council’s priority is to ensure the safety of residents, and significant improvements to road design are needed to ensure visitors and locals arrive at their destinations safely and on time.

These towns are also significant tourist destinations, with many people travelling from Melbourne to visit Gippsland, many of whom would be unfamiliar with the potential dangers. Gumbuya World is a particularly notable tourist attraction that hosts large numbers of visitors from across Victoria. Unfortunately, the highway intersection is not equipped to handle such a large volume of traffic, particularly on busy weekends and holiday periods.

As a family destination, it is especially important that upgrades are undertaken to ensure the safety of visitors and to foster the continued growth of the tourism industry in Cardinia Shire and beyond.