STATE Government claims there would be little need for some ramps connecting the proposed Scoresby Freeway to the Monash Freeway have been attacked by the RACV and Wantirna MP Kim Wells.
State Government spokesperson Sarah McKinnon said the Government did not plan to build ramps to connect south-bound Scoresby Freeway drivers with the city-bound lanes of the Monash Freeway.
The Government was also not planning to provide ramps for drivers heading west on the Monash Freeway to turn south on to the Scoresby, she said.
The State Government’s traffic modelling showed there would be little demand for these connections, she added.
“Virtually nobody would want to travel up the Monash Freeway from Dandenong and turn south down the Scoresby, or travel south down the Scoresby and turn west up the Monash.
“No final decision has been made, but that is the planning at the moment.”
However, Mr Wells said the connections were among the main reasons the proposed freeway network was needed.
“That is the most singularly stupid thing I have ever heard in 10 years of politics. People would obviously be driving down the Scoresby Freeway to turn right on to the South Eastern (Monash).”
RACV general manager of public policy Ken Ogden said the ramps should be included.
“I think this is where modelling doesn’t really reflect what people would do.
“Once the orbital network is in place, there is no doubt that people will use it as against any other route and it will take a hell of a lot of traffic off those other roads.
“It would take traffic off Wellington Road and probably off Ferntree Gully Road.”
He said that the RACV had questioned the freeway plans and would continue to monitor them.
However, the most important thing was to start building the Scoresby Freeway, Mr Ogden urged.
“The money is on the table, so let’s get the project started.”
