Millicent Spencer
Two arterial roads in Craigieburn will be partially closed for seven weeks, leaving residents and business owners bracing for a summer of “inconvenience, congestion, and frustration.”
The seven-week construction blitz will take place between Tuesday, January 10 to Tuesday, February 28 with a 24-7 closure of Craigieburn Road between the Hume Highway and Hanson Road intersections.
Aitken Boulevard will also be closed between Craigieburn Road and Elevation Boulevard, from 8pm each night as additional lanes are added.
Those wishing to access the Hume Highway during the closure will need to use local roads, as well as Grand Boulevard to the north and Somerton Road to the south.
Local business owner Craigieburn Plaza chairperson Musti Yazici said the impact will be substantial.
“We are bracing for the substantial effects [and while] it’s happening we’re trying to battle it,” he said.
“This is a small business hub and each and every business is [on] their own.
“We are working very hard on maintaining our business to get customers through the door.”
Craigieburn Plaza will be accessible via Hanson Road and Hamilton Street.
Mr Yazici said the new year is a very busy time for shop owners in the plaza.
“We need all the support we can get to make sure we can survive but thrive through this,” he said.
Craigieburn Residents Association’s Dennis Moore said after living in the area for 20 years and seeing the population grow he is concerned about the congestion the road closures will cause.
“All of a sudden it’s starting to happen and it’s causing everyone inconvenience, congestion, and frustration,” he said.
Mr Moore said he too was concerned about the impacts the construction would have on Craigieburn Plaza.
“People don’t go [to the plaza] because they can’t get in and out of the carpark … it’s disappointing that people are leaving that little shopping centre.”
Mr Moore said while it will be fantastic when the works are completed, he still fears there will be congestion due to the extra traffic lights.
Major Road Projects Victoria program director Dipal Sorathia said she encourages the community to plan ahead during these disruptions.
“[We] thank them for their patience as we deliver the Craigieburn Road our fast-growing suburbs need,” she said.
The Hume Highway intersection is one of seven to be upgraded on Craigieburn Road between Mickleham Road and Hume Highway – with traffic lights to be added to Balyang Way, Dorchester Street and Cimberwood Drive, while roundabouts will be replaced with traffic lights at Waterview Boulevard and Hardy Avenue.
Bridgewater Road will also be closed between Craigieburn Road and Clovelly Drive from Tuesday, January 10 to Wednesday, January 25.
