MILDURA residents have been urged to rally behind a heavy vehicle bypass to reduce the number of heavy vehicles travelling on Deakin Avenue.
Member for Mallee Anne Webster said correspondence with Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne last month had failed to identify solutions.
“Almost every minute of the day, one heavy vehicle now travels the Sturt Highway through Mildura,” Dr Webster said.
“Anecdotally, we are seeing more and more B-doubles and B-triples rumbling down Deakin Avenue rather than the Benetook Avenue bypass.
“It’s not their fault — they have no choice.
“Even so, I have been pushing the Victorian Government for answers to remedy this situation.
“The people of Mildura and surrounding areas need a show of strength backing safer roads and a new transport strategy for Mildura.”
Dr Webster said a public push would help secure a business plan to create the best option for more freight going on rail and a Mildura heavy vehicle bypass.
“Minister Horne wrote about the speed reduction on Deakin Avenue west of the Sixteenth Street intersection implemented last year,” she said.
“That’s a short-term approach that still doesn’t resolve the problem.
“Trucks continue to go up and down Deakin Avenue through school zones, residential areas, local eateries and Mildura’s CBD.
“Mildura needs robust solutions to get heavy traffic off Deakin Avenue, freight onto rail and create safer and more efficient connections with New South Wales.”
Dr Webster said Mildura’s main thoroughfare, civic and commercial centre needed to be protected.
“We need Deakin Avenue safer for the 12,000 other drivers who use it each day, safer for pedestrians and cyclists while also reducing maintenance costs,” she said.
Dr Webster was due to meet with representatives from Mildura and Wentworth councils, Member for Mildura Jade Benham and other transport stakeholders in Mildura on Thursday to develop long-term solutions for north-west Victorian freight movements through rail and road improvements.
Concerned residents can sign a petition at https://forms.gle/XeE8SMnm639BAGmh8
