By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Greater Dandenong Council will step up its push for a safe pedestrian crossing at a notorious black-spot on Stud Road.
On 23 July, the council resolved to lobby Roads and Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan as well as local state and federal MPs for a crossing near Dandenong Stadium, McPhees Road and Cheam Street.
Councillor Matthew Kirwan said Dandenong residents, particularly children, and bus commuters had no nearby safe access to the stadium, playground and floodplains parkland.
The closest crossing was 850 metres away at the Heatherton Road lights, with the eastern side of Stud Road largely lacking a footpath.
“In reality, residents attempt crossing the busy Stud Road unsafely rather than walk up to 1.7 kilometres.”
Among a history of “serious accidents” on the 80 km/h road section, a pedestrian was fatally struck while crossing on 5 April.
Being an arterial road, Stud Road is a State Government responsibility, Cr Kirwan said.
“Investigation into these accidents has involved officers from VicRoads, Council and Victoria Police and all agree that a safe pedestrian crossing would be a significant road safety improvement.”
Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said she’d discussed the matter with Mr Donnellan, who directed VicRoads to review how to improve pedestrian safety on that section.
“Any death on our roads is a terrible tragedy and my thoughts are with the family and friends of the person involved in this crash.”
Resident Lana Formoso recently wrote to Mr Donnellan about fixing the black-spot.
A senior adviser for Mr Donnellan wrote on 20 July that VicRoads would “continue to monitor the situation”.
The road authority and Victoria Police investigated every death on the state’s roads, with consideration to safety improvements at those locations, the adviser stated.
“As you may appreciate, VicRoads receives many requests for pedestrian safety projects and all are prioritised for funding based on the relative risks to pedestrians crossing the road.
“Based on (a risks) criteria, any improvement proposals will be considered for funding in a future program.
“In the meantime, VicRoads will continue to monitor the situation.”
The risk criteria includes factors such as the speed limit, traffic and pedestrian volumes and the historical safety record, the adviser said.
