Designed for a purpose – Travelling to the airport on regular occasions it has been evident to me that there are constant road works being done to Western Ring Road and also to areas in high density residential areas. Having complained many a time about the hold ups and the inconvenience caused by ‘road works’, this task has made me reflect and realise design purposes for roads and infrastructure that is put into place in growing and developing areas.

Living and working in one of the fastest growing areas in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, the main arterial road (Plenty road) was originally designed and developed to service a small population. This has since soared and has become a booming area with high density housing and vehicle traffic. It is evident that public transport and road infrastructure is insufficient for the demand and there for town planners and designers have been working to develop improved roads and add extra train stations. This begun with the extension of the Epping line to South Morang and works have started for three additional stations extending into the suburb of Mernda.

Designers have planned for and designed train stations to cater for needs, for example; Hawkstowe station has been designed to reduce traffic pressure on Plenty road and cater for the catholic secondary college in the area. Knowing that this station will predominantly cater for secondary students, spaces have been provided for students to sit, study and wait for their transport home. Roads in the area are being extended and extra lanes are being added. These spaces have been implemented due to need and refined and developed with the intent to maximise the use of this space.

 Click here to find out more about the rail design for three new stations on the South Morang line.