Motorists are again calling for a deadly road between Bulla and Melbourne Airport to be duplicated after VicRoads moved to reduce speeds by 20km/h.
A new 80km/h limit on the 4.6-kilometre section of Sunbury Road between the Tullamarine Freeway and Wildwood Road will come into effect next Monday.
But long-time Sunbury resident Hector Bugeja said reducing speed was a “cheap” solution to a problem that should have been dealt with several years ago.
‘‘It’s become a major thoroughfare and I would have thought that they’d be investing in other measures by now,’’ Mr Bugeja said.
‘‘Planners have had their heads in the sand for a while. How low do they go? Do they then reduce it to 60km/h in a few years?’’
The undivided rural road, which is used by 26,000 vehicles a day, has a history of bad crashes.
VicRoads figures show there were 12 casualty crashes, including one fatality and seven serious injuries, in the five years to last June 30. Two people died in a crash involving three vehicles in July last year.
Duplication of Sunbury Road by 2021 was high on a wishlist released by Hume council in the lead-up to last November’s state election.
Sunbury-based councillor Ann Potter said that while she understood VicRoads’ approach, she was disappointed the duplication of the road had yet to be announced.
‘‘Obviously, it’s a massive project, but I hope that plans for the road to be duplicated are in the pipeline somewhere,’’ she said.
VicRoads regional director Adam Maguire said police and the council supported the decision to reduce speeds.
He said the lower limit would give drivers more time to react to changing conditions.
‘‘Reducing the speed limit to 80km/h will improve safety by lowering the risk and severity of crashes.
‘‘The new limit will also make it easier for drivers to transition to the 60km/h speed zone on Sunbury Road west of Wildwood Road.’’
A VicRoads spokesman said there were no immediate plans to duplicate the road.
