UPGRADE: The state government has pledged to improve road safety. Picture: JIM ALDERSEY
FOUR of the region’s most dangerous roads and intersections will be upgraded as part of the Victorian government’s
$1 billion pledge to cut the road toll by more than 30 per cent over the next 10 years.
More than 30 Victorian roads will be upgraded as part of Victoria’s Road Safety Strategy 2012-2022, which will also target driver behaviour such as drink and drug driving and speeding.
The plan will be paid for through the Transport Accident Commission’s accident compensation scheme for crash victims.
VicRoads regional director Mal Kersting said the roads were prioritised according to crash data collected over the past five years.
In Bendigo, the intersection of Long Gully and Happy Valley roads in Golden Square, the intersections of the Midland Highway at Ironstone Road and Allan Street and the intersection of High and Laurel streets in Golden Square will undergo upgrades.
Visibility and lighting at the intersection at the Northern Highway and McIvor Highway at Heathcote will also be improved, after it recorded four crashes including two at night between 2005 and 2010.
Golden Square Dry Cleaners presser and shop assistant Denise Addlem said she had been witness to many crashes at the Laurel Street, Golden Square, intersection in the 15 years she had worked there, including one last week.
“People don’t slow down,” she said. “It’s really good they’re doing something about it.
“It’s needed.”
Another resident said the corner was notorious in the area and was pleased to hear the intersection would be upgraded.
“There’s children passing through here every day and it could easily be deadly.”
Victorian Minister for Roads Terry Mulder said the increase in funding for the Safer Roads Infrastructure program would immediately target high-risk areas.
INTERSECTION UPGRADES:
• Long Gully Road/Happy Valley Road, Golden Square: Improve street lighting, install new road reflectors and signs: $167,000.
• High Street/Laurel Street, Golden Square: Apply new asphalt road surface and new line marking near intersection to improve skid resistance as drivers approach the intersection: $130,000.
• Northern Highway/McIvor Highway, Heathcote: Four new light poles and raised reflective road markers: $154,000.
• Midland Highway/Ironstone Road; Midland Highway/Allan Street: Construct right-turn lane at Ironstone Road; upgrade lighting, add line markings and install yellow road reflectors: $380,000.