Communities across Victoria are now safer thanks to significant works by the Andrews Labor Government to improve high-risk local roads.
Local roads spanning Geelong, Bendigo, Shepparton, Gippsland and the southwest have been made safer following the completion of works as part of the $20 million Safe Travel in Local Streets program.
The program has assisted local governments to deliver safety improvements on council-run roads in regional communities - boosting safety on the road network for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. Some of the safety upgrades include new roundabouts, traffic islands, bicycle lanes, speed bumps, raised intersections and pedestrian crossings to address safety issues in areas with a high crash history.
In South Geelong works included raised platform crossings, known as wombat crossings, and intersection improvements including line marking and kerb outstands. Works were also carried out in North Geelong with a new, raised intersection, flat top speed humps, and wombat crossings on Donnybrook, Princess, Purnell and Sparks Roads.
In North Central Victoria, works targeted Barkley Street, Averys Road, Browning Street, Hargreaves Street, Nelson Street and Sternberg Street in Bendigo, with San Mateo Avenue also upgraded in Mildura.
In the Hume region, works targeted Shepparton's CBD with the construction of a wombat crossing on Stewart Street, and pedestrian treatments at Corio Street, Byass Street and Purcell Street. Splitter islands have also been installed at An, Alexandra, Northgate and Morell Streets in the Mooroopna area.
In Gippsland, roads targeted included MacArthur and Market Streets in Sale, streets in the centre of Traralgon and Morwell, and Connor and Witton Streets in Baw Baw. While in the southwest, Merrivale Drive in Warrnambool, James Street in Port Fairy and Percy Street in Portland also received road safety upgrades.
The program supports Victoria's Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 which aims to significantly reduce road trauma and halve road deaths by 2030.
As stated by Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll
"These targeted upgrades have boosted safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists in communities regionally, helping drive down road trauma and get all Victorians home safely at the end of every day."
"Working alongside councils, these projects have boosted safety and made it easier for all road users to get where they need to go whether they're walking, on four wheels or two."
As stated by Transport Accident Commission CEO Joe Calafiore
"We know that investing in safety specific road infrastructure through programs like this is one of the most effective things we can do to protect people when things go wrong on the roads, ultimately saving lives and preventing injuries."
