The City of Greater Bendigo is working on plans to alter a notorious intersection at which a fatal crash occurred in December.
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There have been calls for upgrades of the four-way intersection of the Epsom-Barnadown and Axedale-Goornong roads for some time.
The intersection has seen several crashes, the most recent a two-car collision on December 21, which is believed to have occurred when a car failed to stop and give way to the other vehicle that was travelling on the Axedale-Goornong Road.
One of the drivers, a 71-year-old Queensland man, died two weeks later in hospital.
Greater Bendigo’s acting engineering manager, Githal Samaraweera, said the council was drawing up concept plans, had begun talking with landowners and had applied for funding from the federal government’s Black Spot Program to cover the cost of the changes.
He said the council had also proposed the estimated $400,000 needed to upgrade the intersection be allocated in its 2018-19 budget, in case the application for Black Spot funding was unsuccessful.
Mr Samaraweera said the council was considering turning the intersection into a staggered intersection.
This would mean motorists travelling on the Epsom-Barnadown Road would have to turn onto the Axedale-Goornong Road and then back onto the Epsom-Barnadown Road to continue travelling along the road.
Currently, there are stop signs on the Epsom-Barnadown Road.
Mr Samaraweera said if all went to plan, work on the intersection could begin next financial year.
Read more: Greater Bendigo’s priority one intersections
Resident Mat Read lives on the intersection and has been pushing for changes for more than a year.
He had feared a fatality would occur at the site and was not surprised when this eventuated late last year.
“It’s a fatality we’ve been expecting, but that we’ve been trying to prevent,” Mr Read said.
But he was pleased that there was something in the works, and hoped the funding would come through.
Mr Read has started a petition calling for the government to fund an upgrade through the Black Spot Program.
Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
