WANNEROO retirees have voiced concerns about how a $50 million interchange will affect access to their homes and to bus services.
Regents Garden Residents Association president Sue Bray said access to the retirement village on Drovers Place would be affected by upgrades to the Wanneroo Road-Joondalup Drive intersection.
“We are very disturbed about it and there’s been no consultation,” she said.
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READ NOW“We are losing our access road – it’s going to be just an emergency access for the fire department.
“We have ambulances coming in and out, going to the aged care all the time.”
Last week, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the overpass was a key 2017 State Election commitment and the State Government hoped to address community concerns through further consultation.
Ms Saffioti said consultation to date had included four community liaison group meetings, project newsletters and shopping centre displays, with two more planned on March 22 and 24.
Mrs Bray said if the right-in, right-out turns into Drovers Place was closed, ambulances from Joondalup would have to travel to the roundabout to effectively do a U-turn and come back to get into the street accessing the village.
She said retirees were also concerned about the impact the interchange would have on bus services.
“They are taking away the bus stop – the people who don’t drive, what are they supposed to do?” she said.
Residents Willy Fisher and Rhonda Thomas use the bus to get to Joondalup regularly, and said many of the retirees would be stuck without it.
“It’s easy – you can stop anywhere in Joondalup and in front of the train station,” Mrs Fisher said.
Mrs Thomas said changes to the bus services would affect a lot of elderly people.
Jason Boyer, of Tapping, said he wanted to know where the bus route would go.
“Currently the 390 bus turns right from Joondalup Drive into St Stephens Crescent – they want to stop that right turn,” he said.
Public Transport Authority spokesman David Hynes said Transperth was working with Main Roads WA and route 390 was likely to be affected.
“Outbound services will not be able to access St Stephens Crescent, and the route will ultimately be realigned to operate on Clarkson Avenue via Wanneroo Road,” he said.
“Traffic signals will be required at Wanneroo Road-Clarkson Avenue for the route to operate the same alignment on both directions.
“Some stops on Joondalup Drive near St Stephens Crescent will no longer be served by Route 390 but will retain access to the 467.
“Stops on St Stephens Crescent will no longer be served once the bus route moves to Clarkson Avenue.
“Passengers will need to access services from Joondalup Road or Clarkson Avenue.
“Some stops on Wanneroo Road will likely be shifted south.”
Mr Hynes said it was too early to know what impact the upgrades would have on bus travel times.
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