RACV welcomes move to fix one of Redspots repeat offenders

Victoria’s leading transport advocate RACV has welcomed the first step towards widening the Chandler Highway Bridge - one of Melbourne’s most notorious and repeat offender Redspot bottlenecks.

The state government has short listed four construction companies for the bridge upgrade, which will involve widening the highway to six lanes and constructing a new bridge over the Yarra River.

The intersection at Heidelberg Rd will be upgraded and safety will be boosted with traffic lights to be installed at Yarra Boulevard.

The Chandler Highway Bridge in Alphington/Kew, has in the past topped the RACV Redspot list of top 10 worst locations for congestion.

In this year’s Redspot survey, the Chandler Highway sat in third spot on the top ten list of worst congestion locations. (see attached)

RACV General Manager Public Policy, Brian Negus welcomed the first step in the upgrade project, saying it couldn’t have come soon enough.

“This is a nightmare location for drivers who have to use the bridge on any given day of the week.  The new six-lane bridge and related road works will vastly improve the flow of traffic and safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

Mr Negus repeated his calls for ongoing long-term investment in roads and public transport to reduce the city’s choking congestion.

“The Redspot Survey highlighted that the priorities must be the Metropolitan Ring Road - North East Link, the rapid transit bus service to the north east, including the Doncaster area and East West Link.”

The State Government says the selected contractor will be named by the end of the year and estimates construction will commence in early 2017 and be completed in mid-2018.