This message was approved for distribution by the Office of the Campus Manager for and on behalf of the City of Glen Eira Council’s Major Projects Coordinator.
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As part of Glen Eira City Council’s 2012/2013 Capital Works Program, Council has allocated funding to undertake traffic and pedestrian safety improvement works in Sir John Monash Drive, between Derby Rd and Princes Ave.
Works will include; renewal of the road pavement, footpaths, kerb and channel and underground drainage, two new flat top speed humps with incorporated zebra crossing points and pedestrian safety improvements linked to new streetscape improvements.
Works will commence the week starting 10 September and are anticipated to take 8 weeks to complete (weather permitting).
Sir John Monash Drive between Derby Rd and Princes Ave will be closed to all through traffic for the duration of the works. Access to the off-street car-park behind Coles and to the Building J car-park will be available at all times via Princes Ave.
There will be pedestrian access to shops and railway station ramps at all times during the works. Bus stops will be relocated to Derby Rd for the duration of the works with appropriate signage directing patrons to the temporary stops.
We understand that these works will be very disruptive but this is an important project undertaken by the City of Glen Eira to deliver long term benefits to the community.
For further information on the works, or any queries you may have through the duration of the works in Sir John Monash Drive, please contact City of Glen Eira Council’s Major Projects Coordinator, Mr Frank Romania, on 9524 3333 during normal office hours.
Glen Eira Debates 
September 6, 2012 at 11:05 AM
really dumb! doing it during the spring racing carnival. Are they just trying to piss off the MRC od di they make a mistake with the timing? It could end up being a good thing as it would be pretty stupid to divert traffic down Queens Avenue because where would cars go then up past Caulfield plaza? Noone would even get out of the car park
September 6, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Great initiative by our Council and Monash Uni. This will have long term benefits for our Community and the thousands of students who utilise this area. Well done Council.
September 6, 2012 at 11:27 AM
This is supposed to be a major project but there’s nothing listed in the budget papers. Two sets of speed humps were put in recently. They’ll now probably be ripped up and replaced. What long term benefits there are apart from improving drainage is anyone’s guess and this council is also guessing since you can be sure that very little preliminary research was done. Costings of all this would also be useful and how much the government has kicked in. We will never know that little bit of the equation.
September 6, 2012 at 12:55 PM
We’ve received the following email from one of our readers –
Good morning,
I wasn’t sure who to contact in regards to a suggestion regarding the round about intersection and pedestrian crossing on Sir John Monash Drive & Queens Avenue.
I have been working here at the University for over 10 years and notice that at peak hour traffic (am & pm) and exam time there is a terrible build up of traffic that is caused by many factors.
Besides the large number of vehicles that have increased usage in the area with , the biggest problem is a major cause to traffic congestion are pedestrians.
A suggestion I would like to raise (which may have already been raised) is the introduction of timed lights to be used during peak hours (am & pm) which may help with the issue of large amounts of traffic & pedestrians that use this area during these times. By having timed lights (that sync with the Dandenong Rd lights) this would allow traffic to flow and gives time to pedestrians to cross – which would be a fairer and safer alternative than what is happening at the moment. Pedestrians walk onto the intersection all the time & the traffic must stop and give way, which means it’s not flowing and clearing the area. If everyone gets an opportunity to pass through the intersection with the timed lights, then greater amounts of traffic (both pedestrians & vehicles) will get through. Then at off peak times, it reverts back to the current system.
Another problem is the bus lane that runs from Sir John Monash Drive to Dandenong road. This is dysfunctional, as buses turning left from Sir John Monash Drive onto Dandenong Road use the normal lanes rather than the designated bus lane which congests the traffic.
The final issue which I notice around the campus is that pedestrians walk onto the roads (not at deemed crossing points) where the station is on Sir John Monash Drive and between the car park and Building S of the University on Princess Avenue with no regards for traffic (so traffic must stop). I’m not sure if anything can be done about this. The only thing that comes to mind is getting Police to issue infringements for Jaywalking placing signs (not sure if that’s possible) or barriers, but this may be unsightly and very expensive.
Thank you for reading my suggestions, if they can be reviewed, it may help with the congestion in peak times and the safety of pedestrians and to motorists health (as it’s quite traumatic when you are trying to drive and have pedestrians pop out from between cars onto roads).
Have a good day & kind regards
September 6, 2012 at 1:22 PM
These suggestions are all excellent and should be seriously considered. Whether council has is another question however. In the first place I am curious – will this be a permanent reconfiguration? I ask this in the light of the proposed Monash redevelopment and what their plans are for the entire sector. If this is merely stop gap and temporary, then surely the argument could be put that once again we have a council that is wasting ratepayer funds. If permanent and part of the ongoing Phoenix precinct then the lack of detail, forewarning and publication of a clear, final vision has again fallen short.
With the erection of the 20 storey building opposite the Tabaret and the closure of the street then traffic attempting to enter Dandenong Road will indeed be a nightmare.
September 6, 2012 at 5:40 PM
All good points Mr Evans. If this is indeed part of the Monash plan, which it undoubtedly is, then why is Council paying for these works? More to the point, have local residents been notified, or are we to presume that with the unusal inefficiency of this council, that residents have been kept in the dark as to the works. There’s also the issue of how much this will cost and how the perceived benefits have been studied, quantified, and justified. I would not hold my breath for any definitive answers to any of the above.
September 7, 2012 at 2:31 PM
When the infamous C60 errupted I looked up the Monash Uni expansion plans on the DPCD website (it was no longer on Council’s website because way back in 2002/3 Council passed it as a Priority Development Zone and in doing so made it a State Govt responsibility rather than a Council responsibility thereby removing any residents rights to object or have any knowledge of the now current form of the project). But I digress.
The then Monash Uni plans on the DPCD website included three 23 storey buildings and various other buildings of 8-12 storeys. It also included closing Sir John Monash Drive (at least between Queens Avenue and Derby Street) and making it an open pedestrian area/plaza area. Since then economics have delayed the Monash project – but let’s face it, it is only a delay and the project will go full steam ahead when Monash decides it is economic. The first residents will know of it is when work starts.
So the answer it the current work being undertaken in Sir John Monash drive will be temporary and why Council is undertaking it at ratepayers expense is beyond me.
September 7, 2012 at 3:34 PM
has anyone got a copy of these plans. Want to see how/if Caulfield East Reserve fits into these plans
September 7, 2012 at 3:41 PM
The Monash Master plan is available on: http://www.monash.edu.au/study/campuses/campus-masterplan-caulfield.pdf
September 6, 2012 at 12:59 PM
if you reckon it is bad now imagine what it is going to be like when the MRC develops its land (if it happens)
September 6, 2012 at 5:43 PM
Hi People,Ive a frequent user of those buildings and road area for 3 years. The speed humps have been good. Could help with another 2 between the round about and Dandenong rd to stop people speeding when they come off the highway. Also the tow-away area on that road is futile. It never ever serves to allow 2 lanes of traffic. The natural flow of that traffic is to come off the round about in single file of which by the end of reaching that street there is sufficient distance before the traffic light to create 2 lanes. If anything it should be a Tow Away zone for 4-5 car spaces closest to the traffic light, not the whole lot. Also you can pretty much bet a car is parked there everyday and usually for quite sometime after 4pm.
Thanks
Luke
September 6, 2012 at 5:51 PM
PS also in the 8 weeks can you spare a day to revamp the footpath from the tram stop and shops to the bridge, I’m having trouble getting into the left hand side of the car with all the overgrowth and dodging the broken glass on the shonky footpath.
cheers
luke
September 6, 2012 at 10:49 PM
Dont expect this Council to undertake any roadside vegetation management. I can no longer ride my bike along Queens Avenue because vegetation has overtaken the bike lane and because Penhalluriack suggested someone prune it, Newton has told him it is bullying and refuses staff to go into the area and has even cordoned off the area with permanent fences. WHAT A JOKE.
September 7, 2012 at 7:26 AM
yes it is disgraceful. Whose idea was it to grow all those grass plants that trap all the rubbish and not let anyone out of there cars?