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Council attempt to solve queuing at Hume exit toward Wallan

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Jordyn Grubisic
Jordyn Grubisic
Jordyn Grubisic is a senior journalist for the North Central Review primarily covering politics at all levels and sport with a particular interest in basketball. Since 2019 she has worked for several publications across Victoria including most recently at the Alexandra Standard and Yea Chronicle. She is always keen to hear from local community members about issues they face and has an interest in crime and court reporting.

Mitchell Shire Council will attempt to provide a solution to queuing on the Northern Highway when exiting the Hume Freeway northbound at Wallan, asking relevant authorities to place signs at the beginning of the short second exit lane.

Queuing during peak hour in the afternoons has long frustrated drivers, with many expressing annoyances on Facebook community pages.

But council say the Department of Transport and Planning, DTP, responsible for the road, rarely supports non-standard signage and council is unaware of a similar type implementation across Victoria.

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In a notice of motion at the October council meeting, Cr Nathan Clark said the second lane allowed for a surplus of vehicles at peak times but not all drivers were aware of how it could improve safety and traffic flow.

“This confusion has recently generated unacceptable incidents of road rage from members of the community,” he said.

“Some people even block the lane to prevent the sensible extra storage of vehicles, which is dangerous and puts people at unnecessary risk.

“A sign indicating use both lanes may assist in mitigating this problem.”

Cr Clark said other actions should be taken to address the issue.

“I think there’s plenty that should be done about it. A lot of north-south connecting roads inside the growth corridor are required,” he said.

“The Watson Street interchange is also something that would alleviate this problem and these are works that have been well planned for – well catered for – we just need the state and federal governments to work together and execute this.

“I wouldn’t recommend people use the second lane to hoon pass people that are doing the proper speed, I know that causes some problems in the community.

“I’d just like to see people being a bit sensible when they have that opportunity to use that second lane.”

Cr Rob Eldridge said he witnessed dangerous driving on the exit.

“You see both – the hoons flying past you at 120 kilometres an hour to try and get three cars ahead of you, and you see people blocking the whole second lane, forcing people back onto the Hume – it is only a matter of time before we have a major problem there,” he said.

“I’m not sure what form it would take but I think any sign is going to rely on common sense, and I’m sure some of that is lacking when people get behind the wheel, so I look forward to the outcome of the signage.”

Cr David Lowe said the traffic was a ‘really tricky problem’ to which he didn’t know the solution to.

“The road rage that Cr Eldridge referred to is very real – it does happen to people – but I also understand Cr Clark’s point that this is a legacy,” he said.

“I don’t think when they built that second exit lane 35 years ago they didn’t foresee not duplicating the Northern Highway into Wallan for 35 years because that’s what it’s all about.

“It’s all about the fact that this is a second lane to feed into the south of Wallan.

“It does cause problems and it does irritate a lot of people when hoons go flying up the outside and then push in.

“I don’t know the solution to this. I applaud Cr Clark putting this forward as a possible solution and we will see what the state or federal authorities decide to do about this particular road exit.”

Cr Bob Cornish suggested alternative ways to fix the congestion including slowing cars down to 80 kilometres before entering that stretch of road or installing a third lane.

All councillors except Cr Lowe voted for the motion.

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1 COMMENT

  1. What a stupid idea slowing down the highway to 80km it will achieve exactly nothing at all make a extra exit lane and make them longer it may help

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