Ratio

Ratio Consultants Pty Ltd provided traffic engineering services to Vivas Lend Lease, who propose to develop the site at 590 Orrong Road in Armadale into a high quality residential precinct. It will consist of up to 500 dwellings designed by Architects Bates Smart in a range of residential apartment towers and luxury townhouses.
The site is ideally positioned for high density residential living due to the location adjacent to the Toorak Railway Station, Toorak Park and Victory Square. With direct access to Orrong Road, it provides opportunities to link into the existing road network as well as the public transport services within the vicinity of the site.

The Challenge:

Residents of the development will be encouraged to utilise alternative transport modes and this will be aided by the site's excellent accessibility to a range of public transport options, including train services at the adjacent Toorak Railway Station, buses that run past the site's frontage along Orrong Road, and tram routes to the north and south of the site along Malvern Road and High Street. In addition, the site is well serviced by pedestrian and cycling routes with a key cycling route that runs parallel with the railway line and abuts the site to the north west. 

The Approach:

It is proposed to create a new signalised intersection at Orrong Road with the junction of a main internal boulevard (subject to VicRoads approval).
The access strategy has been developed to provide primary access to/from Orrong Road in a safe and convenient manner, with limited impact on the operation of the arterial road network, whilst minimising any traffic intrusion into the residential precinct to the south.
The main boulevard servicing the site will be an attractive tree-lined avenue reflecting the finest qualities of an Armadale streetscape. The remainder of the internal road network will incorporate traffic calming devices to aid pedestrian access or function as either low speed 'Shared Zones' or low-key access routes to car parking areas and be appropriately paved to reflect their function.
Convenient bicycle parking facilities will be provided within the site to encourage the use of this mode of transport for both leisure and commute trips.

The Result:

The development will establish high levels of residential amenity and sustainability due to its ideal location adjacent to public transport services, public open space and other community and commercial facilities, in association with a range of green travel initiatives. The site will also be self sufficient for resident and visitor parking.