By Jessica Micallef
The Calder Action Group is renewing calls for Calder Freeway upgrades, including building an overpass at one of the freeway’s notorious intersections.
Group members have erected a sign along the freeway, calling on the government to “Fix the Calder”.
Group public relations officer and New Gisborne resident Russell Mowatt said he spoke from experience after being involved in an accident with his daughter in 2012 on the freeway.
“People are getting impatient and a lot of accidents have happened with lane changes or they’re trying to make a lane out of nothing,” he said.
“I survived that but a lot of people don’t. If you’re getting all these accidents wouldn’t it be in your best interest to make it safer?”
In February, the federal government committed $50 million to upgrade the Calder Freeway, including adding extra lanes between Gap Road, Sunbury and the M80 Ring Road.
Group president Ian Sutherland said he was disappointed in the state government’s lack of commitment to the project.
“It’s an issue and I don’t think [premier] Daniel Andrews knows,” he said. “I think he’s got a political view that the south-east is very important and the west can wait.”
Mr Mowatt said building a Calder Park Drive overpass onto the freeway was the biggest priority.
“During peak periods, the traffic is banking up onto the freeway,” he said.
According to a report by Infrastructure Australia, the Calder Freeway will become Melbourne’s second most congested road during morning peak and the third most congested in the evening peak by 2031.
