Drysdale ByPass could be built if the Victorian Coalition Government gets back in

The Geelong Advertiser reports today that

"THE long-awaited Drysdale bypass will be built if the Coalition is returned to government next month.

Premier Denis Napthine will today make an official $106 million election commitment to build the road in the hotly contested seat of Bellarine.

Plans seen by the Geelong Advertiser show the two-lane road will stretch for 5.9km from the major roundabout on the southwest entry to the town and rejoin Portarlington Rd to the town’s north near Whitcombes Rd..."

Read more at: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/liberals-promise-to-build-drysdale-bypass-if-they-win-election/story-fnjuhovy-1227092900904

The road will be started in 2016 and completed in 2019.

VicRoads preparing a Drysdale bypass study

The Geelong Advertiser reports today - Drysdale bypass next step, by Peter Begg, August 2nd, 2012:

"The State Government has embarked on a study into a bypass road for Drysdale, with the results expected by the end of this year.

Cr Rod Macdonald said the council wrote to the Roads Minister Terry Mulder and he had replied that VicRoads was doing an assessment of the potential benefits of a Drysdale bypass.

"They expect the review to be completed by December," he said...

Last month, a local community group urged local politicians to support the building of a Drysdale ring road.

Drysdale-Clifton Springs Community Association secretary Patrick Hughes said his group wanted councillors and MPs to support the bypass as a priority.

The proposed road would skirt Drysdale to the east from Whitcombes Rd to Andersons Rd, diverting traffic away from busy High St..."

Read more at: Drysdale bypass next step.

Committee for Bellarine wants the Drysdale Ring Road

An article in the Geelong Advertisier today (print edition - Wednesday 25 April 2012) entitled "Call grows for bypass" by Tom Bennett calls for the building of the Drysdale bypass by Tom O'Connor from the Committee for Bellarine.

The Committee for Bellarine has jointed the growing chorus for a Drysdale ring road.

The proposed bypass would allow Geelong-bound traffic from Portarlington, Indented Head and St Leonards to avoid Drysdale altogether.

It would also keep garbage trucks bound for the local tip out of the town centre and its major intersections.

Adjoining towns Drysdale and Clifton Springs have undergone a population explosion in recent years and peak hour traffic snarls are now common.

Worst effected areas are in the main retail precinct and the four way intersection at the Jetty Rd roundabout.

The busiest time is between 8am and 9am when peak hour coincides with school drop offs.

While I understand the reasons behind the call for the bypass, previous reports have suggested that the bypass which has to be funded by VicRoads is not a priority. Estimates of between $50m and $70m to build the road have been quoted. VicRoads has already spent between $4m and $5m buying up land to use for the road. Still more land has to be purchased.

Given the austere times facing this state government, I don't see this project getting underway anytime soon.