ALBION residents say cutting off their main link with Sunshine will devastate the community.
King Edwards Avenue will be permanently closed at Andersons Road in June to make way for a proposed grade separation as part of the $5 billion Regional Rail Link project.
However, residents say the removal of the level crossing should be delayed until new designs can be drawn up.
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They have joined a growing number of groups fighting the project that they say will also destroy the heritage value of the HV McKay Gardens. Albion Residents Action Group spokesman Frank Reinthaler said the road closure would be a major blow.
“We heard a rumour about this but really couldn’t believe it. We’re just trying to get people to realise what will happen.”
Mr Reinthaler said the closure would make it far more difficult for Albion’s 3700 residents to reach Sunshine, their main shopping area.
It would also add extra pressure on the “already jammed” Forrest Street.
Members of the group joined Friends of the H V McKay Gardens in a Save our Gardens rally last Tuesday and have also letter-dropped the neighbourhood.
Mr Reinthaler said most residents he had spoken with were unaware of the proposal to turn King Edwards Avenue into a cul-de-sac as Anderson Road is lowered to pass beneath the rail line.
“It’s not even needed for the Regional Rail Link; they don’t need to work in this rail corridor.”
Residents are also upset the Regional Rail Link Authority pulled out of a planned information meeting last Thursday.
RRLA engineering manager Graham Hawthorne has written to the Friends of the
H V McKay Gardens group to allay concerns over current designs and encroachment on the gardens.
He indicated they would consider ramps rather than lifts to access the new pedestrian footbridge, look into placing power lines underground rather than moving them into the park, and have an arborist review trees in the gardens.
“In order to minimise the effect on the gardens, our discussions with VicRoads continue regarding carriageway and shared path lane widths, with a view to minimising these yet ensuring public safety is not compromised,” Mr Hawthorne wrote.
