A FEDERAL Liberal MP has raised doubts over the State Government's pre-election commitment to build a $15 million elevated off-ramp from Cranbourne Road onto the Frankston Freeway.
Three weeks before the 2006 state election, then transport minister Peter Batchelor announced "a $15 million commitment to construct a grade-separated right-turn lane to take traffic from Cranbourne Road over the intersection to connect with the freeway northbound''.
"This intersection is the source of long traffic queues in peak periods,'' Mr Batchelor stated in a media release then.
"Unfortunately, this has also led to an unacceptable crash history, with 22 casualty crashes having been recorded here in the last five years.
"The provision of this right-turn ramp will address those issues.''
Mr Batchelor indicated the off-ramp could be completed by the "scheduled'' time of the EastLink opening.
EastLink opened last month, five months ahead of schedule.
In Federal Parliament last month, Dunkley MP Bruce Billson accused the State Government of "inaction'' and local Labor MPs of remaining silent on the issue.
"We have Marcel Marceau state members of parliament more interested in representing the Labor brand than standing up to the Labor government representing our community,'' he said.
In a later news release, Mr Billson accused the State Government of misleading the people of Frankston and called on Frankston Labor MP Alistair Harkness to explain why the ramp had not been built.
"Approaching two years after the announcement ... all we have to show for that transport intersection work is this press release,'' Mr Billson said.
"Shame on Labor for such a blatantly misleading exercise with purely political motives that have let down my community dramatically.''
Mr Harkness on Thursday described Mr Billson's comments as a "political stunt'' and urged him to stand down from politics.
"When will he realise that the people of Frankston are sick and tired of his ridiculous political games?
"It seems that he will continue to spend the remainder of his time in parliament to score cheap, tawdry political points at every opportunity.
"If he is so bored with being an MP, then he should do the honourable thing and step aside for someone who will take the job seriously.''
Mr Harkness said he was having "regular discussions'' with Roads Minister Tim Pallas and VicRoads "about local road projects''.
"This includes finding workable solutions for congestion issues at Cranbourne Road and at other places as well,'' he said.
A spokeswoman for Mr Pallas said the Government was committed to Frankston roads.
"VicRoads is currently looking at options that could improve traffic flows at the end of the Frankston Freeway.
"The Government has provided around $90 million to duplicate Frankston-Cranbourne Road, $7 million to widen the Moorooduc Highway and $37 million to upgrade the Western Port Highway.''
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