Slow progress on Jumping Creek Road Upgrade

by DAVID HOGG
8th April 2019

IN JULY 2016, Manningham Council endorsed the Jumping Creek Road Development Framework, a major project costing (then) $17.9M with a construction period of six years scheduled to begin in 2018.

The road currently carries over 8,000 vehicles per day, a number which is expected to double by 2035, and has had over 20 recorded vehicle crashes in the past five years.

An important link road between Warrandyte and the Yarra Valley, the road also gives access to the only river crossing within 10 kilometres for Wonga Park and the surrounding area.

A Jumping Creek Road Community Reference Panel was formed in 2017 and this consists of nine people comprising residents, businesses and community groups which are directly affected by Jumping Creek Road.

The works will include roadway realignment, emergency vehicle stopping bays and a shared pedestrian/cycling path which will run the entire length of Jumping Creek Road between Wonga Park and Warrandyte.

Roundabouts are to be constructed at the Warrandyte State Park Entrance, Hooper Road, Hartley Road and Yarra Road.

We ran a detailed description of this project in our July 2017 issue.

However, since then progress has been very slow and not a lot has happened.

The Diary asked Manningham Council for an update.

“Works to relocate water, gas and telecommunications lines between Ringwood-Warrandyte Road and Nelson Drive are progressing as part of stage 1A of the Jumping Creek Road upgrade,” said Grant Jack, Acting Director City Services.

“These works started in November 2018; over summer some electrical relocation works were delayed due to warm weather.

“While the relocation works are underway, Council is finalising the design of stage 1A of the road upgrade.

“This will include a planning permit process, which is anticipated to be advertised for public comment during April/May.

“The schedule of construction works for stage 1A will be set once the design is finalised.

“It is anticipated works will commence later in 2019.

“The upgrade is proposed to be constructed across a number of stages over an eight year period,” he said.

Manningham’s Yoursay website has a comprehensive map of the upgrade works.

However the website, and the responses from Manningham Council refer to various stages by number, but it is hard to determine which features are included in which stage and we have asked for further clarification of this and a mud map of the stage process with dates.

A further meeting of the Reference Panel has now been convened for Thursday, April 11 and we have been promised an update following this.

The Diary will keep you informed.

For more information and updates on the Jumping Creek Road upgrade, visit: www.yoursaymanningham.com.au/jumping-creek-road-upgrade