CAMERAS are now lining two major roads as plans for safety and traffic improvements in Junortoun and Strathfieldsaye form.
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The newly-installed cameras and traffic tube counters are tracking how many motorists are travelling the busy roads through the growing suburbs.
They will also be used to see what types of vehicles are on each road - for example, passenger or heavy vehicles.
About 14,000 vehicles use the McIvor Highway between Strathdale and Heathcote every day, while 15,000 use Strathfieldsaye Road between Bendigo and Lake Eppalock, according to Regional Roads Victoria.
Both also have walkers and cyclists, while Strathfieldsaye Road connects trucks to state and national highways.
Crashes and near misses were a major theme of public feedback on both roads, a Regional Roads Victoria summary revealed in August.
They are among the issues RRV is investigating, along with traffic flow and options for walkers and cyclists, northern region director Brian Westley said.
"The data we are collecting throughout September will help us understand traffic movements on these roads and allow us to effectively plan for future growth and road improvement projects," he said.
"To deliver successful transport projects, it is essential that we collect information in the planning stages to help us understand the way people use our roads.
"This includes gathering technical data, as well as talking to the community to get their feedback."
Cameras have been installed at multiple intersections across both suburbs, including in Strathfieldsaye where 70 per cent of motorists felt it was hard to get onto or leave the suburb's main road.
That includes cameras at the Blucher Street intersection, which attracted more than 40 comments during consultations - a number of which pointed out how busy it got at school pick up and drop off times.
Cameras have also gone up along streets off of each road and even at the Strathfieldsaye shopping centre's car park.
One member of the public called for a roundabout at the entrance to the car park during public consultations.
"Widening the exit to allow right and left turn exiting as well as entry will ease congestion. A roundabout would clearly aid traffic flow here," they said in an online comment during consultations.
Meanwhile, RRV ecology consultants have finished their winter observations at both roads.
"They'll be returning in November to capture all spring movements of local bird species," RRV said on its website.
More on this story - 'Cars nearly hit you from behind': what you want changed on two busy Bendigo roads
The authority has also finalised a study into how water catchments interact with road corridors and the capacity of structures, culverts and bridges.
Options for each road will be narrowed down over the coming months and concept designs should go on display between January and February 2020.
The public will then have a second opportunity to provide feedback.
Project proposals would likely be submitted for funding opportunities between March and November 202, according to RRV.
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