Road island will be no refuge, says resident

A temporary crossing is helping Noble Park pedestrians to stay safe during work to remove three level crossings.
But resident Gaye Guest said the refuge on Corrigan Road near Craven Street was an accident waiting to happen.
A Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) spokesperson said the temporary pedestrian crossing and refuge was near the rail line.
LXRA is removing the level crossings at Corrigan, Chandler and Heatherton roads.
“This replaces a nearby pedestrian crossing that is being closed for safety reasons during works to remove the three dangerous and congested level crossings at Noble Park,” the spokesperson said.
“A permit from City of Greater Dandenong was obtained for the temporary crossing and refuge, which comply fully with all council regulations.”
But Ms Guest said that before the refuge was installed this was “the only unimpeded route over the three level crossings while these ghastly works are being carried out”.
“It is an accident waiting to happen because I have seen literature from one of the council’s acting heads of department saying cars parked must leave a three-metre clearance so as traffic is not impeded,” she said.
“This crossing is in an inappropriate position and will only cause more headaches for road users and even – and I hope I am wrong – an accident.”
She questioned why LXRA couldn’t have instead installed a zebra crossing.
Ms Guest has been outspoken against the State Government’s decision to elevate the train line to remove Noble Park’s level crossings.
“Given the State Government’s fall in popularity and the inappropriate works being undertaken along the 2.7 kilometre stretch of rail in Noble Park – where other suburbs are being offered a much better option to having their rail crossings removed – I believe this pedestrian refuge needs to be moved ASAP,” she said.