Another incident with boomgates in Gap Road, Sunbury has reignited calls for a third railway crossing.
Police expect to charge a truck driver after a boomgate was broken when he stopped halfway across the crossing, leading to major traffic and train delays on Wednesday.
Motorists were stuck at the crossing for almost an hour after the incident took place about 4pm.
Rail services were also disrupted well into the night.
Witnesses said the truck driver appeared to have been impatient with congestion caused by the notorious roundabout at Gap Road and Horne Street.
‘‘Instead of waiting until he had clearance, he decided to try hurry the cars in front,’’ one motorist, who did not want to be named, said.
‘‘He stopped halfway across the tracks and when the boomgate went down, it got stuck on his roof. He decided to reverse back but ripped it in half.’’
BERNIE O’FARRELL
Sunbury Residents Association (SRA) has previously called for a third railway crossing, towards Vineyard Road, to ease traffic congestion.
As reported by Star Weekly in October, the intersection and crossing were not mentioned in VicRoads’ latest priority list.
SRA president Bernie O’Farrell said Thursday’s incident was further proof that urgent action was needed.
‘‘We’ve been campaigning for at least 15 years,’’ he said.
‘‘They keep saying it will be considered but nothing gets down. With the population growing, they’ve got to get on with it.’’
About 27,000 vehicles travel on Horne Street each day, and 18,000 on Gap Road. Vehicle numbers combined with the boomgates at the level crossing 200 metres south of the intersection, result in significant traffic disruptions, especially during school and work peak hours.
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Bernie Finn has been vocal in criticising the Labor government over its inaction on road projects and planning for Sunbury.
A spokesman for Roads Minister Luke Donnellan last month denied there had been indecision about the intersection, pointing to a $15,000 planning study that began in June.
‘‘Data will be used in consultation with residents and businesses, as well as Hume council, to determine the best solution,” the spokesman said. “[This] may include traffic lights.’’
