By Jessica Anstice and Danielle Kutchel
Motorists say they are fed up with the deteriorating conditions of Healesville-Kooweerup Road.
It’s gotten so bad, a number of drivers refuse to use the arterial road out of safety and due to ruptured tyres.
In one motorist’s account, the road condition “is shocking, there are huge potholes either side and you can’t dodge them or you are heading into oncoming traffic.”
Mal Chung, who frequently drives the road, recommends that “if you do 30km/h you might just miss a few of them.”
Cardinia Shire Council is not responsible for the management of Healesville-Kooweerup Road as it comes under VicRoads’ jurisdiction.
Star News Group understands that potholes on the arterial should be rectified within one week of inspection or notification.
“The most recent wet weather has contributed to the deterioration of the road,” a VicRoads department of transport spokesperson said in response to enquiries.
“We’re starting works this week to repair the road surface between Manks Road and Hall Road.”
The road resurfacing is expected to be completed by early September.
In the meantime, rough surface warning signs have been place along the road to advice drivers of the changed road conditions.
Learner driver Holly Townley says she uses Healesville-Kooweerup Road and Ballarto Road often and believes it is “extremely dangerous”.
“It’s gotten to a point where I try and avoid the intersection due to large amounts of traffic going along the road but also the near misses,” Ms Townley said.
“I’ve had other drivers trying to pull out of Ballarto Road to go towards Kooweerup and almost collide into me.
“I think the potholes are not the only dangerous thing about this road.”
Healesville-Kooweerup Road is among six key routes which will be transformed as part of the South-Eastern Roads Upgrade.
The road will be widened from two to four lanes for 10 kilometres between Princes Freeway and Manks Road.
New roundabouts will be installed at Ballarto Road, Hall Road and south of Deep Creek, as new traffic lights are added at the intersection of Greenhills Road to improve traffic flow.
The existing Princes Freeway ramp roundabouts will be widened.
A service lane will also be added for properties along the east of Healesville-Kooweerup Road between Deep Creek and Soldiers Road.
Once a delivery partner has been selected, a construction program will be confirmed, with major work due to start in 2020 and be completed five years from contract award.
But all of this is cold comfort to residents who travel the road every day, and sustain the damage.
