Archive, Industry News

Market relocation to add to traffic woes

Councillor fears relocation of Melbourne’s wholesale market will increase traffic congestion on the Craigieburn Bypass

By Ruza Zivkusic-Aftasi | February 22, 2013

The relocation of Melbourne’s wholesale market to Epping will increase traffic congestion on the Craigieburn Bypass, a councillor says.

Whittlesea Councillor Stevan Kozmevski has welcomed the relocation of the market from Footscray in Melbourne’s west but believes it will increase truck traffic in the area.

The on-and-off ramps on the bypass are currently at full capacity, he adds.

“During the peak time the congestion is rather heavy and trucks in the area will make it a lot worse,” Kozmevski says.

“We as a council have been lobbying the State Government in regards to the on-and-off ramps and heavy congestion around Cooper Street where the market will take place.”

The market will triple in size from its current form of 33,000 square metres in Footscray.

The Victorian Government is currently asking for expressions of interest for the construction of the warehousing.

The Footscray Road site allowed only a small portion of tenants to have warehousing on site due to space constraints, Minister for Major Projects Denis Napthine says.

“By having warehousing inside the market just a forklift drive away from the trading floor stores and stands, rather than kilometres away in external warehouse, means significant transport costs and other efficiencies are gained by tenants,” Napthine says.

The construction of the market is due to commence later this year and is scheduled for completion in in the 2015 financial year.

Bookmark and Share

Previous ArticleNext Article
Send this to a friend