Appeal to cut speed

By Melissa Meehan
SLOW DOWN. That’s the message from Greater Dandenong councillor Jim Memeti to drivers travelling along Lonsdale Street over the next few months.
Cr Memeti raised his concerns at the last council meeting, especially the fact that he couldn’t remember whether there were any speed limit signs along the busy road.
On Friday Cr Memeti returned to the street to find his suspicions were correct, no speed limit signs were up and cars were screaming past at different speeds.
“I have been made aware that when there are no signs it means it’s a 60km/h zone,” he said.
“But there should be signs in a thoroughfare like Lonsdale Street.”
He said since he first raised the issue council officers had already spoken to both him and Vic Urban about the speed limit of the road – but VicRoads needed to make the final decision.
“Both council and Vic Urban agree that 40km/h would be an appropriate speed,” he said.
“But let’s do it now instead of waiting until the works are over.”
City of Greater Dandenong development services director Mal Baker said VicRoads was responsible for determining speed limits on the road.
He said during the construction period VicUrban would have construction speed limits in place when needed.
VicUrban’s development director Michael King said VicUrban was committed to maintaining high safety standards throughout the construction period.
“As planned for some time, the speed limit along Lonsdale Street will be temporarily reduced to 40km/h from today (Thursday) in the areas where construction is occurring,” he said.
“The transformed Lonsdale Street will be a 40km/h zone.”
Roadworks from today (Thursday) will coincide with the redirection of traffic into the western service lane between Walker and Clow streets.
All changes to traffic conditions will be communicated with temporary road signs.