The
level of protest about the Vic. state government's opting for road
building rather than increasing public transport infrastructure,
received a 'ginger-up' yesterday with the announcement of further on and
off ramps planned for the east-west freeway tunnel-link. The proposal
has already angered many people with a route which will traverse long
established residential areas. Now, they learn that the link will also
cut a swath across Royal Park (which among other attractions, houses the
Melbourne ZOO) and, will necessitate loss of over 20% of park access
for the (perhaps) decade of construction ... and finally, permanent loss
of a small percentage of the park forever.
Of course, I'm no
expert on preparing transport infrastructure for expected present and
future population increases in demand. But, I think I'm a fairly
competent observer of what has gone on in this metropolis over the span
of my adult life. It is fair to say that
every grand-plan for
car-centric freeway linkages in the past has resulted only in
intensified daily peak chaotic congestion and bottle-necks. Billions
have already been wasted turning 'freeways' into peak car-parks with no
lasting benefits for anyone except construction companies!
Yet, they press-on regardless.
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