Roundabout work draws MP's fire

Adding a third lane at Eelup roundabout and installing four sets of traffic lights will increase congestion, confuse motorists and cause crashes, according to South West MLC Adele Farina.

Ms Farina told the Bunbury Herald the State Government’s decision to add an extra lane and install signals on the roundabout rather than build the promised flyover was ill-conceived and would further exacerbate problems.

‘‘The Liberal Party has broken an election promise by not building the flyover and what they’re doing with the roundabout by adding the third lane is going to make things much worse,’’ she said.

Traffic delays and minor crashes are commonplace at the busy road junction which takes traffic from Australind Bypass, Robertson Drive, Sandridge Road and Koombana Drive.

About 30,000 vehicles per day drive on the Australind Bypass, while 20,000 pass Sandridge Road, 15,000 Robertson Drive and 13,000 Koombana Drive.

According to Main Roads WA, the roundabout has the State’s worst crash rate with more than 650 recorded crashes occurring in the past five years, costing an estimated $11 million.

The State Government last month started works on fixing the roundabout by building a slip lane as part of the $16million upgrade, which aims at reducing the number of crashes and increasing capacity.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the roundabout had major capacity problems as could be seen by the long queues that formed on the major roads during peak hours.

‘‘Construction of the slip lane means motorists heading further south will no longer need to enter the roundabout, providing a safer and more efficient journey as well as reducing the number of vehicles on the roundabout,’' Mr Buswell said.

Fulton Hogan has been awarded the $1.7 million contract to build the left-hand slip lane for traffic heading south from the Australind Bypass.