The deadline to remove a Delahey roundabout described as “the most dangerous and hazardous in the state” has been dragged out by at least six months.
Star Weekly revealed in May the Taylors and Kings roads roundabout works were set for the second half of this year, to be completed by May next year.
However, works were pushed back when Roads and Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan announced the $7.5 million program would not begin until March next year, with the end of 2017 for completion.
As well as removing the roundabout, traffic signals, pedestrian crossings and a dedicated bicycle lane are also key parts of the project.
St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman said in May most works were scheduled for the Christmas-New Year period to cut disruptions, but could be completed earlier.
But she hinted at a possible deadline extension in Parliament late last month.
“We have seen fatalities and near misses … this is the most dangerous and hazardous roundabout in the state,” she told Parliament. “As the west continues to grow, this intersection will only get worse. These works are extremely vital.”
A VicRoads spokesman said works had been delayed due to “complex service [utilities]relocation at the site”.
The roundabout is a central distributor for suburbs including Delahey, Sydenham, Taylors Lakes, Deer Park, Kings Park, Taylors Hill and Caroline Springs, and was voted as Melbourne’s seventh-worst intersection in the RACV’s 2014 Redspot survey.
The survey found road rage and near misses in morning and afternoon peaks were common “as drivers try to find gaps to enter this roundabout”.
Brimbank council believes “safety at the Kings-Taylors roads intersection is highly compromised”, and “hazardous for pedestrians”.
Infrastructure and environment director Neil Whiteside said the roundabout needed “urgent attention”.
Mr Donnellan last week said the state government “hasn’t wasted a minute in getting on with fixing this notorious intersection”.
“We know how important this project is.”
