By Deanne Jeffers
COMMUTERS heading from Mooroopna’s south side towards Shepparton on the Midland Highway are currently enduring bumper-to-bumper traffic, stretching from Ardmona all the way to the town centre, most mornings. The presence of road works on Echuca Road is worsening congestion, with additional traffic reportedly now using the Midland Hwy as a detour to miss construction works.
The combination of workers commuting to Shepparton and Echuca, school traffic, and heavy vehicles on the road during peak morning hours is contributing to the delays.
Within Mooroopna, weekday mornings see numerous school buses parked along McLennan Street, further congesting the intersection of Watt Road/O’Brien Street and McLennan Street. The turning lane onto Watt Road is struggling to handle the increasing traffic flow crossing the Goulburn River towards Kialla, adding to drivers’ daily frustrations.
The ongoing traffic chaos on the Midland Highway and surrounding roads is not just a nuisance, it’s a clear sign of the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades. With more and more new estates and housing developments on the southern side of Mooroopna stretching to Tatura and beyond, the current road network is struggling to cope with the growing demand, making the daily commute a constant battle.
The combination of heavy vehicles, school buses, and commuter traffic is a clear indicator of the critical need for investment in better roads, improved public transport options, and more efficient traffic management. These investments could bring much-needed relief to the daily commute.
As demonstrated in emergencies or during construction periods, a single disruption can throw the entire network into chaos. Without action, the strain on infrastructure will only worsen, further hindering the daily commute for those travelling into Shepparton each morning. For now, motorists must contend with the ongoing reconstruction of the severely damaged Echuca Road, which is expected to continue until March 2025, weather permitting.
