TRANSPORT industry bodies have called for State and Federal governments to immediately fix the “missing link” between Greensborough and Ringwood.

The RACV and Victorian Transport Association with industry vegetable growers group AusVeg Vic and community group Resolve Rosanna Rd met near Rosanna Rd this morning to urge authorities to make the North East Link a top priority in fixing congestion around Melbourne.

Heidelberg Leader has long campaigned about safety concerns along Rosanna Rd and Banyule roads, both being used to link the Eastern Freeway and the Greensborough Highway.

RACV general manager Brian Negus said the North East Link had been a top priority project for the group.

“This project is a critical part of RACV’s overall road and public transport agenda to improve livability and economic development for all Victorians,” Mr Negus said.

“This missing link in the Ring Rd system is a vital piece of infrastructure and is a road of national significance that should be a top priority to attract Commonwealth funding.”

Mr Negus said there was “massive” congestion across the north east with Rosanna Rd — which carries 45,000 trucks per day — Greensborough Highway, Bulleen Rd and Fitzsimmons Lane being used as default routes.

He said the fruit and vegie market in the north, the agriculture centres in Gippsland, and the burgeoning freight activity around Dandenong were all creating massive congestion with trucks and cars through the four default routes.

Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson said there was a huge need for the government to put the North East Link project as a number one high priority on its list.

“What we have now is a dangerous and unsustainable situation where heavy vehicles are forced to navigate through residential streets to get between the Ring Rd and the Eastern Freeway and on to East Link because they have no alternative,” Mr Anderson said.

Resolve Rosanna Road spokesman John Francis said the group welcomed the support for a North East Link but needed immediate solutions to the safety concerns along Rosanna Rd.

Mr Francis said if the government committed to building the link it would be another 10 years before the road was up and running.

He said the group wanted a reduced speed limit, and air and noise pollution surveys done.