State Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has called on Greater Shepparton City Council to defer the roadworks on Fryers and Welsford streets, with widespread impacts in the community from traffic havoc on the causeway.
Local handyman and small business owner Craig Stevens said on Wednesday the timing of the works was “really bad”.
“It’s probably not the right time with no rear access (on Watt Rd) — we’ve been tied up on the road trying to get to and from jobs and it’s getting costly, sitting for 45 minutes to get over,” he said.
For truck driver Adam Nielson, the traffic had added an extra 90 minutes to a job on Wednesday morning.
He said three to four months of the delays could result in “massive losses” for businesses requiring travel over the Goulburn River.
The works that began on November 14 are stage four of the Welsford St redevelopment, which have closed the Fryers and Welsford streets intersection and caused a bottleneck getting on and off the causeway in Shepparton.
Ms Sheed said the noise in the community about the impact of the works had been “massive”.
“If all the bridges were open, the volume of traffic wouldn’t be this great, but with the Murray Valley Hwy and McCoys Bridge still closed we’re seeing so many more buses and trucks,” she said.
“It’s having an impact right across the community and I’m really concerned as we move into the holiday season our businesses will suffer.
“For Mooroopna we’ve seen what it means to be cut off [during the floods] and after what has been a really difficult time for our community — it’s just not showing you’re in touch with the community.”
Ms Sheed said she believed the works, expected to be completed in March 2021, were discretionary.
Council director of infrastructure Gary Randhawa said it was a government-funded project that needed to be completed within the time frame specified.
“Delaying the project will incur contract penalties for council and increased costs,” Mr Randhawa said.
“Under the contract, delays past the approved period are estimated to cost well over $1 million.”
He said working on the whole site at once, rather than in smaller parts, reduced the length of time the community would experience delays, and was financially responsible.
The works also can’t be completed at night, Mr Randhawa said.
“The works include excavation of the existing pavement, and roads cannot be opened after work hours as they will not be in a condition to drive on,” he said.
Mr Randhawa said council was monitoring traffic flow but at peak times longer delays were “unavoidable”.
Ms Sheed said she had heard school buses were arriving late, and people were late for work and appointments due to the delays.
On Thursday morning, a Facebook group was created called ‘Causeway and traffic delays in the GV Area’ in response to the works.
Information on the works can be found at greatershepparton.com.au/council/major-projects/welsford-street-redevelopment