A bridge spanning the heads of Bellarine and Mornington could cut congestion, improve Melbourne’s economy and prevent the CBD from being divided by tunnels and criss-crossing roads, according to transport lobbyist and independent candidate for Higgins, Peter Brohier.
Not only would a ring road link “twin cities by the bay”, Geelong and Melbourne, with the Mornington Peninsula but it would allow peak hour traffic to flow at the same time, in both directions, saving travel time, better using existing infrastructure, easing traffic flows and spreading the impact of population growth over two cities, he said.
The bridge across the heads would be an architectural icon equal to Sydney’s Harbour Bridge, Brohier said. He estimates a bridge would costs around $4 billion plus another $5 billion in ancillary costs.
A ring road could also service a series of “villages” around the bay. However, Brohier argues that this would not perpetuate urban sprawl but simply use the existing road system more effectively.
“People want to live by the water and this would allow for development around the bay. It’s important for governments to make sure it is a village set up, rather than urban sprawl.”
While environmentalist Kate Baillieu was unconvinced, calling the scheme about as sensible as a “flying fox across the heads or even a slingshot”.
Brohier told Architecture & Design that less congestion and more direct routes would mediate the environmental impact.
“We can’t afford to waste 30 years slicing up our city when the time is now and there is a reasonable case for the federal government to meet its obligations and deliver a third inter capital link for Victoria.”
