THE State Government has been slammed for its “failure” to adequately repair the boom gates at the Donnybrook Road level crossing.
State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has called on Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams to immediately upgrade the boom gates.
She said Donnybrook residents were thrown into chaos last Monday when the boom gates at the Donnybrook Road level crossing failed about 3.30pm.
Soon after the boom gates stopped working, traffic was backed up to the Hume Freeway on the west side, and all the way to the Epping Road roundabout on the east side.
The boom gates were locked in their lowered position for about two hours, holding up traffic in the middle of the school pick-up rush, and causing havoc at local schools as children were let out of class but parents were not there to pick them up as they were stuck in the traffic.
Local residents have told Ms Lovell that failure of the boom gates is a regular occurrence and has happened at least 10 times in the past few weeks alone, “intensifying the notorious traffic congestion that already plagues Donnybrook Road”.
Ms Lovell said Donnybrook Road already suffers from chronic traffic congestion and repeat failures of the boom gates at the level crossing only make it worse.
“With no alternative exit or entry point to the housing estates along Donnybrook Road, local residents end up trapped in traffic every time there is a vehicle collision or the boom gates stop working,” she said.
“Labor has abandoned the residents of Donnybrook and continues to ignore my calls (to the Premier in parliament) for the government to extend Cameron Street to Merriang Road to provide an alternate entry point that would provide both safety and convenience to the residents of Donnybrook estates.”
The Review sought comment from the minister but did not receive a response by the deadline time.
