THE Plenty Road duplication project has blown out again, and VicRoads now predicts it will be finished by the middle of this year.
Originally touted to be open by the end of 2011, the project is 18 months behind schedule and $4.8 million over its original budget.
Rain was the most recent culprit, with a planned traffic switch last week from the old road onto the new delayed due to the weather.
VicRoads said if the conditions were clear the traffic would be switched back this week, allowing rebuilding works on the old road to continue.
“Subject to weather conditions, our current expectation is for all new lanes to open by mid 2012,” said VicRoads’ project director for northern city projects Andrew Williams.
Asked about the project’s cost increase, from $17 million to $21.8 million, he said: “The project scope was extended resulting in a change to the project cost.”
Residents expressed disbelief about the most recent hold up.
“The new section is already asphalted and line marked, we had one day of rain, how does that relate to a six-day delay?” said Matt Ferrantino of the Mernda and District Residents Association.
“The project was earmarked to be completed by the end of 2011, then early 2012, now mid 2012. We haven’t had that much adverse weather, and even so, there appears to be no urgency from the contractor or VicRoads to complete these works.”
He said the works were critical to reinstating the area’s recently cut route 562 bus services. The cut had been blamed on road congestion in the area.
The 2.4km project will provide two lanes each way between Gordons Road and Riverdale Boulevard, South Morang. It includes bicycle lanes on both sides.
