THE western gateway for Wodonga would switch from Melbourne Road to Melrose Drive under Hume Freeway plans flagged by VicRoads.
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The government agency this week unveiled proposals to improve the 16-kilometre stretch of the freeway between McKoy Street and Bandiana Link junctures.
They include installing ramps to the western side of the Melrose Drive exit to create a full interchange.
If that were to proceed VicRoads would shut existing freeway access from Melbourne Road.
VicRoads North East regional director Nicki Kyriakou said there would be too higher traffic risk with two nearby entry points.
“If it’s too close it can cause safety issues with weaving and slow moving traffic coming on,” Ms Kyriakou said.
Melbourne Road formed the Hume Highway until Wodonga was bypassed in 1985.
Under VicRoads’ plan, Melbourne Road would be shut-off about 100 metres west of the Moorefield Park Drive roundabout to allow businesses continued access.
A full diamond interchange for the McKoy Street intersection was also outlined along with a reconfigured Bandiana Link exit.
The latter could involve the existing High Street off-ramp past Cambourne House being shut and that traffic funnelled into an extended Havelock Street through the Bandiana Link turn-off.
The routes are being canvassed as part of $1 million planning work, but Ms Kyriakou stressed they were not final and no money had been allocated for construction.
“These are proposals only, with the feedback we’re getting from industry, council and the community we will be looking at changing and shaping them where it makes sense,” she said.
The earliest date for funding of work would be 2019 with a full diamond interchange alone costing tens of millions of dollars.
Illustrations of the plans can be found at www.makewodongayours.com.au with comments being accepted until November 24.
About 15 people attended a drop-in session held at The Club Wodonga between 2.30pm and 8pm Tuesday.
