By Casey Neill
Traffic lights will soon make it safer to use a key Noble Park intersection.
The signals will be installed at Heatherton Road, Memorial Drive and Mons Parade next year, the Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) has announced.
More than 2000 vehicles now pass through the intersection each morning peak hour.
The lights will help cyclists and pedestrians to access the new 17-kilometre cycle path that will run from Yarraman to Caulfield, and motorists to move in and out of Mons Parade.
The existing pedestrian crossing across Heatherton Road will be removed.
Devlin, 14, lives in Berwick and regularly travels with his BMX to the Noble Park Skate Park where he’s “made a fair few friends”.
He says it’s “awesome” that crossing through to Ross Reserve will be easier.
“Noble Park is one of the best built up skate parks around,” he said.
“There’s always a problem crossing the main road, either way you come, it is a hassle to cross.”
Devlin said anything that could make the intersection safer and reduce the temptation to cross illegally was a good thing.
Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said the skate park was expected to grow in popularity.
“It is more important than ever to have safe and direct crossings in place for kids and young people coming to this world-class facility,” she said.
“At the moment, locals and traders tell us they get incredibly frustrated; the connections just aren’t working whether you are driving or on foot.
“This is about revitalising the Noble Park precinct into a shopping and leisure destination in its own right, and making those connections work for everyone.”
LXRA is removing all three level crossings in Noble Park – at Heatherton, Corrigan and Chandler roads – and replacing them with rail bridges.
