Traffic nightmare for Alford St residents

A leafy street in Warragul has been turned into a highway or a carpark because of a lack of action by Baw Baw Shire Council, according to resident James Burke.
Roadworks in Sutton St have resulted in traffic using Alford St as a short cut instead of the designated detour.
Mr Burke said he asked council to address the issue when road reconstruction works began in Sutton St at the start of the month.
However, it took many days before better road detour signage was installed and a "local traffic only" sign for Alford St.
Mr Burke said the signage was being ignored and at times buses, trucks and vehicles with trailers were using the street during the day and added to at school times when it was clogged by local traffic, particularly those with children at St Paul's Anglican Grammar School.
Mr Burke said it was either fast moving traffic "hurtling down the steep hill" or complete congestion during school hours.
He said the road was narrow and overhanging oak tree branches and cars parked on either side forced buses and similar vehicles to use the centre or the road.
Ï warned council that the heritage oak trees could be damaged and this occurred last Tuesday," he said.
Mr Burke thought a PTV bus hit the limbs of one tree, causing damage.
Mr Burke said simple solutions such as a reduced speed limit to 40 kp/h (the current limit is 50k/ph) which could be randomly enforced to ensure compliance and mobile speed humps at the bottom of the road near Bowen St could be implemented by council.
He said a gross limit also should apply to limit use by heavy vehicles and trucks. Alford St runs east/west from Victoria St to Bowen St.
Mr Burke said the detour took traffic to Albert St and Bowen St, but traffic was using Alford St as a short cut.
He was concerned even traffic and equipment associated with the Sutton St works was using Alford St.
He said during school drop off and pick up times it was impossible for residents to back out of their driveways.
Mr Burke is also concerned about pedestrians as there is no footpath at the western section of the street. He said his 14-year-old son was forced to veer off the street while riding his bike to and from school.
"Most of the traffic is well above the 50 k/ph speed limit. All we are asking for is some simple steps to make the current situation much safer," he said.
A council spokesperson confirmed that local traffic signs had been installed and all drivers were encouraged to avoid Alford Street and follow the detour route as signed" but it was not clear how that was being done.
Work on reconstruction and widening of Sutton St began last month. The cost of the works is $1.9 million and if favourable weather continues is expected to be completed by the end of April.