THE state government’s Major Road Projects Authority has agreed to include a right-hand turn lane at Levida Drive in the Lathams Rd duplication project following consultation with Carrum Downs business owners.
The government allocated funds to duplicate the Carrum Downs Industrial Estate’s main road in its May Budget. The project is expected to cost about $80 million.
Duplication was first proposed by Frankston Council in 1989.
The Committee for Greater Frankston hosted a meeting with authority officials in October.
Committee chief executive Ginevra Hosking said the decision highlighted the importance of “early and in-depth community consultation for major projects”.
Ms Hosking said the Levida Drive turn was not in the design presented at the October meeting. “If not included, morning traffic would have been diverted away from commercial businesses in this area,” she said.
In late November, the authority told the committee “we have included a right-turn lane from Lathams Rd into Levida Drive in the design. We recognise this turn … is important for businesses and motorists in the area, and appreciate your help obtaining this feedback.”
Projects manager Austin Manning and projects engineer Joel Docker outlined the project to an audience at a breakfast meeting in Carrum Downs.
Mr Manning said 2.5 kilometres of Lathams Rd would be duplicated (four lanes) between Frankston–Dandenong Road and Oliphant Way. There would be a second bridge over Peninsula Link; an expanded intersection at Frankston–Dandenong Rd; traffic lights where Lathams Rd intersects with Stephenson and Colemans roads; and roundabout upgrades at Frankston Gardens Drive and Oliphant Way to take B-doubles and semis.
Mr Manning said contracts would be signed by the end of 2019, construction would start in 2020 and be completed by 2023.
*Mike Hast is a member of the Committee for Greater Frankston.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 19 December 2018
