BENDIGO residents have highlighted the dangerous roads they want fixed after the federal government yesterday announced $723,000 to fix two black spots in the region.
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The government has funded roundabouts at the intersections of Allingham and Ham streets, Kangaroo Flat and Plumridge and Raglan streets, White Hills.
When asked on Facebook which other sites needed work, readers mentioned Elmore-Barnadown Road where there is a single lane and potholes between Redesdale and Kyneton.
Several readers highlighted the Calder and Calder Alternative highway intersection at Ravenswood. The site is listed for an $86-million upgrade, with an overpass connecting the highways due for completion in 2017.
A reader applauded the roundabout announcement for Plumridge Street, saying it was "chaos"' at school drop-off and pick-up times.
RoadSafe central Victoria road safety officer Malcolm Pollitt said he didn't keep a specific list of sites but said the corner of Booth and Chum streets at Golden Square would be ideal for a roundabout.
Eligible proposals are prioritised according to their assessed safety benefit...
- Spokesperson for Jamie Briggs
"There’s a lot of close calls there," he said.
Mr Pollitt said installing more wire barriers along country roads would prevent fatalities.
A spokesperson for Infrastructure and Regional Development Assistant Minister Jamie Briggs said Black Spot Programme funding was mainly available for sites, or road lengths, which had a history of at least three casualty crashes over a five-year period and met cost-benefit criteria.
"All nominations for black spot funding in Victoria are first assessed by VicRoads, which has details of the crash history of the sites and the expertise to assess the appropriate treatment," the spokesperson said.
"Eligible proposals are prioritised according to their assessed safety benefit and are then considered by the Victorian Black Spot Consultative Panel which makes project recommendations up to the limit of available funding."
Mr Briggs then considers the recommendations.