Elsie Lange
Locals are feeling the traffic pain in Sunbury, with regular routes closed due to the Gap Road level crossing removal.
Residents have taken to social media to vent their frustrations, with one poster describing the their commute as “murder”.
“[I] forgot about it. Made the mistake of running to Woolies at school time. 10 minute round trip took 45 minutes,” another said.
Goonawarra resident Charles Robertson was incredulous as he waited in his car at temporary traffic lights installed at Macedon and Barkly streets, noticing they weren’t synchronised and causing unnecessary delays.
“You have lights stopping the traffic in both directions on Macedon Street… at one stage all traffic in both directions in Macedon Street and in Barkly Street sat there for about 40 seconds facing a red light,” he said.
“Why is it working late at night, when there’s virtually no one on the road?”
It is understood the temporary traffic lights detect vehicles waiting at the end of Barkly Street and in the right-turn lane on Macedon Street, so when a car is detected, lights automatically activate a sequence to enable traffic to flow.
Responding in an email to questions from Mr Robertson, the Department of Transport said because traffic signals were temporary, “they cannot do complex signal programming”.
“The disruption will only last as long as Station St/Gap Rd is closed. Sorry for the inconvenience,” the department said.
In response to questions to Star Weekly, a spokesperson from Rail Projects Victoria – the authority responsible for traffic concerns during the level crossing removal – said they thanked motorists and the community for their patience.
“The removal of the level crossing will ensure the area is safer, less congested and better connected when the new road underpass opens in October,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Robertson was disappointed the department’s only response was that he wait until the project was finished.
“I’m not complaining about the fact the lights are there… but surely you put it in there, you can make it work properly… why disrupt people in the early hours of the morning or late at night when there’s no traffic around at all,” he said.
“Turn it off altogether.”
