Let there be lights

THE $3.83 million facelift at the Cardinia Road and Princes Highway East intersection is complete. On Friday, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Edward O’Donohue announced that the upgrade was finished, with the traffic lights turned on for the first time.
“St Francis Xavier is coming along well and the retail development across the road has started,” he said.
Mr O’Donahue said the project included new traffic signals, street lighting, additional right turn lanes on Princes Highway East and approach lanes on Cardinia Road.
“Pedestrian crossings have also been installed to provide safer and easier access to the nearby college, and future commercial and residential properties,” he said.
The intersection was previously an unsignalled T-intersection and in the five-year period ending 30 June last year, there were 10 crashes at the site. Many of these were cross-traffic crashes.
“In this popular growth area, traffic conditions have changed with significant population and traffic increases since the opening of the Pakenham Bypass,” Mr O’Donohue said.
Minister for Planning Matthew Guy said it was important to ensure that infrastructure was in place in growing communities
“The Cardinia region is expected to continue to grow over the coming years, so it is important that intersections like this one are able to operate safely and cope with increased traffic volumes,” Mr Guy said.
The intersection is funded by VicRoads, Department of Planning and Community Development, Cardinia Shire Council and the developer Grandvue Estate.