Whittlesea council has softened its stance on the E6 being built as an arterial road instead of a six-lane freeway, agreeing to new community consultation on the issue.
The council has long held the view that the road, which will extend from the Metropolitan Ring Road to Beveridge/Kalkallo and connect to the future Outer Metropolitan Ring Road and the Hume Freeway, should be a four-lane arterial road.
It says that transport modelling shows that an E6 arterial road, combined with improvements to the city’s other key roads, would significantly reduce congestion on High Street and Epping, Edgars and Dalton roads.
The council believes a freeway would not achieve the same outcome.
But VicRoads wants the E6 to be built as a freeway.
At a recent council meeting, councillors agreed to allow new community consultation to influence its position on how the road should be constructed.
The decision follows the presentation of two petitions to the council, calling for it to change its mind.
The first petition, which was presented to the council in June last year, was signed by more than 500 people.
The second petition, with more than 200 signatures, was tabled at the April 18 council meeting.
Councillors also agreed to simply advocate for the road to be built sooner rather than later.
Mayor Ricky Kirkham said plans to construct the E6 within 15-30 years were not good enough.
“Traffic congestion is like a noose around the neck of this city,” he said.
“We need a better hierarchy of roads networks.”
Cr Lawrie Cox, who advocated for the road to be built as a freeway, said the E6 was essential because the population in the municipality’s northern pocket was increasing dramatically.
“We want to get rid of the choke points and get some roads that actually work for us,” he said,
“The E6 as a road is something that needs to come into the strategy sooner or later.”
