Work will start this week on a major suite of roadworks in San Mateo Avenue designed to improve safety for all road users.
The majority of the work is part of the Victorian Government's $20 million Safe Travel in Local Streets (STILS) program and will focus on San Mateo Avenue between Seventh and Fourteenth Streets.
It will include the following components:
- changing the speed limit from 60km/h to 50km/h between Seventh and Fourteenth Streets, in line with speed limits in Deakin and Ontario Avenues
- installation of a narrow strip of traffic island in the centre median of San Mateo Avenue between Brown Street and Thirteenth Street to prevent u-turns, reducing the risk of head-on crashes
- three raised pedestrian crossing points between Thirteenth and Fourteenth Streets, providing safe crossing opportunities for pedestrians and people using mobility scooters
- realigning the intersection of Eaglesham Street and Windsor Street, reducing the number of possible conflict points by removing the additional intersection. This will also significantly increase the size of the Windsor Playground
- painted bicycle lanes to improve cyclist separation from vehicles
- establishing angle parking on the eastern side of San Mateo Avenue in the shopping precinct near Thirteenth Street
- raised safety platform in Hawthorn Grove to reduce vehicle speeds along this street near Wade Avenue
- reconstruction of the roundabout at the intersection of Thirteenth Street and San Mateo Avenue (this is separate to the STILS program, and funded by Council).
Mildura Mayor Jason Modica said the suite of works was a collaborative effort between the Victorian Government, Regional Roads Victoria, Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Mildura Rural City Council. The Victorian Government is contributing over $500,000 to make San Mateo Avenue safer for road users, cyclists and pedestrians.
"The aim of this work is to prevent crashes from happening, or reduce their severity when they're unavoidable, through new safety features and improving the infrastructure that is already there," Cr Modica said.
"This strip of San Mateo Avenue is becoming increasingly busy as our city grows, including a large number of pedestrians and vehicles, heightening the risk of crashes.
"By reducing vehicle speeds, providing more opportunities to cross the road safely, particularly near shopping precincts and preschools, it will make this area a lot safer for everyone."
The first stage of upgrades will start today with reconstruction of the roundabout at the intersection of Thirteenth Street and San Mateo Avenue, which will make the roundabout easier and safer to negotiate.
To allow for this work, Thirteenth Street between Sarnia and Dawn Avenues will be temporarily closed to traffic. The roundabout reconstruction work is expected to be completed by the end of March. Traffic diversions and signage will be in place. Local businesses in this precinct will remain open and accessible throughout this period.
The broader suite of STILS works are expected to be completed by the middle of this year.
KEY ROAD SAFETY MEASURES
Reducing the speed limit from 60km/h to 50km/h
According to the Transport Accident Commission speed is one of the major factors contributing to accidents on Victoria's roads.
VicRoads states that a 10km/h reduction in speed from 60km/h to 50km/h can lead to at least a 60 per cent increase in the chance of survival for pedestrians involved in collisions.
Reducing the speed limit to 50km/h between Seventh and Fourteenth Streets will provide more consistency with other main streets at this end of the central Mildura area, as well as significantly reduce the risk of crashes and serious injuries.
Raised pedestrian crossing points
Raised pedestrian crossing will be installed at the following locations:
- between Burrows Street and Pasadena Grove
- between Hawthorn Grove and Hunter Street
- between Brown Street and Thirteenth Street
The raised crossings in San Mateo Avenue will be located close to shopping and preschool services and will provide safer crossing opportunities for pedestrians and mobility scooters.
