Sedgwick Road speed limit change welcomed by bicycling community

Bendigo Bicyclist Network member Edward Barkla said the potential of reducing the road's speed limit from 100km/h to 80km/h was a natural progression for the city.

"If you take a look at every entrance into Bendigo - whether it is from Kangaroo Flat, Huntly, Maiden Gully or Strathfieldsaye - they are all 80km/h zones and are based on volume of traffic and residential access," he said.

"So I think this is a natural progression for a developing area. It has (reduced) visibility, is undulating and is heavily-treed road with an increased traffic volume."

The stretch of road was also the site of a crash in 2017 that saw Bendigo cyclist Jason Lowndes killed after he was struck from behind by a car while on a training ride on Sedgwick Road. Speed was not a factor in the crash.

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Mr Barkla said the 100km/h zone stretched to Spring Gully, near the retirement village.

"Reducing the speed limit is in the community interest," he said. "The road is shared between residents, tradies who are out there building homes and people visiting Bendigo. This would be for the safety of all those people.

"These changes have been advocated by locals since before Jason died. Council have worked well and if they get this through, it is a real blessing to us and the whole community. There's no downer on it."

The City of Greater Bendigo applied to the Department of Transport to reduce the speed limit on Sedgwick and Mandurang roads in October.

"The timing (of this) is partly due to the Mount Alexander Shire Council petition received about reduction of speed through Sutton Grange and request for COGB to review Sedgewick Road," Council coordinator of infrastructure development Phil Garner said. "Also the speed limits are subject to ongoing review."

If successful, the proposed speed limit reduction would apply to Mandurang Road in Spring Gully (near Francliff Avenue) to Sedgwick Road (near Springs Road) in Sedgwick.

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The Department of Transport confirmed it is considering a request from City of Greater Bendigo and Mount Alexander Shire to reduce the speed limit on Sedgwick Road and Bendigo-Sutton Grange Road.

"We're always happy to assess proposals from council and a speed limit review on Sedgwick Road is currently underway, with aims to have an outcome by early next year," Regional Roads Victoria regional director Brian Westley said.

Former Bendigo mayor Laurie Whelan, who is a cyclist, said the changes already made along the road were important to cyclists.

"That's great and really important in terms of cyclists and regular users of that road," he said. "It is a narrow road and it's important for people to be driving safety.

"The safety works completed there will make it a lot safer as well."

In 2018, council received federal Black Spot Program funding for shoulder sealing and road realignment about 500 metres either side of the intersection of Sedgwick and Storys roads in Sedgwick.

Earlier this year, black spots in the Mandurang area also received funding with a staggered intersection to be installed in at Sedgwick Road and Nankervis Road by realigning Nankervis Road at Mandurang South.

About 4.3 kilometres of wire road barriers, and wider shoulders will be installed on Sedgwick Road from Nankervis Road to Storys Road in Mandurang South. The total cost for the Mandurang South project is $920,000.

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"The Sedgwick Road (Nankervis Road to Storys Road) safety project is currently in the design stage," Mr Garner said. "The funding period is for two years and the delivery is planned by June, 2021."

Diamond Hill Road from Nankervis Road to Kangaroo Gully Road in Mandurang will also have its shoulders sealed at the intersection and the sight distance improved thanks to $510,000 of funding.

Mr Whelan said he would also like to see Axe Creek Road made more friendly for cyclists.

"Cyclists head to Spring Gully and Mandurang and turn left up Axe Creek Road to come in to Bendigo through Strathfieldsaye," he said. "A lot of road cyclists do that regularly.

"The other works done near Storys Road has contributed to safety and once more shoulder-widening done that will be even better. I commend council for responding to this."

Mr Barkla said each road should be considered on its merits.

"Most roads are pretty well set at the moment," he said. "If council continue to adopt policies and procedures and make the assessments as they come up, we're in good hands.

"Council do a great job balancing community interests and the budget. We all want a piece of pie and they have been gracious in working with us for some time."