12 November 2015
Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has used an adjournment debate in State Parliament this week to ask the Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan for a start date on the Murray Valley Highway and Warren St roundabout.
“The intersection is an important gateway connecting communities and businesses between Echuca and towns along the Murray River and Moama in New South Wales “ Mr Walsh said
“This most dangerous intersection services one of the strongest growth areas in Echuca together with the increasing traffic from Echuca’s major residential aged care and independent living complex
“Over the last six years there have been four recorded crashes involving 11 people “ he said.
The Victorian Liberal-Nationals government announced in July 2014 that VicRoads would upgrade the intersection to a major roundabout in 2015 as an “early works” component of the Echuca Moama Bridge project.
At that time VicRoads confirmed that plans were complete for this roundabout and work could start in early 2015 and would take 12-14 months to complete.
“Almost a year has passed and the community is quite rightly concerned that the Melbourne Labor government has axed the much needed upgrade at one of Echuca’s most dangerous intersections.
“$4.5 million was set aside in July 2015 to allow for the early delivery of the roundabout as part of the $96 million allocated to the Echuca Moama Bridge project.
“The money is in the bank for the roundabout – all that’s needed for it to be built is for the Roads Minister to give it the green light.
“There is no acceptable reason why the upgrade of this notoriously dangerous and busy intersection has not commenced “ Mr Walsh said.