Work to make Merrivale Drive safer for pedestrians and cyclists has recently been finished, with great feedback received from local residents and Merrivale Primary School.
The scope of the project was guided by community consultation work done in 2019, with a raised crossing at Merrivale Primary School, pedestrian refuges, coloured cycling lanes and a number of other traffic calming measures now in place.
The $373,000 project was funded by the Victorian Government's Safe Travel in Local Streets program.
Merrivale Primary School Principal Simon Perry said that the school was happy to work with Council and the local community to determine how the funding could be used most effectively.
"It's been a collborative project," he said.
"A lot of work has gone into the ideas and how the project has been put together, so I think that's really great.
"Already we've noticed how it has slowed the traffic in the area, especially in front of the school.
"It's all about the safety of the kids and families."
Warrnambool Mayor Cr Vicki Jellie thanked everyone who was involved in shaping the project.
"Nobody knows Merrivale better than the people who live and go to school there, and having so much input from the local community has led to a really great result, so a big thank you to everyone involved," she said.
"What we have now is a Merrivale Drive that's much safer for everyone.
"Walking is such an important form of transport and exercise - it's great for your physical health, your mental health as well as for the environment, so the more Council can do to encourage walking, the better."
