Hannah Hammoud
Brimbank council is appealing to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to address community concerns about safety at two major arterial roads.
At a council meeting on June 20, councillor Thomas O’Reilly raised a notice of motion to address road safety concerns at Anderson Road in Sunshine and The Avenue in Sunshine West.
Cr O’Reilly cited community concerns in relation to pedestrians trying to cross Anderson Road at the school crossing near Derby Road in Sunshine, and again, at the intersection of Fitzgerald Road and The Avenue in Sunshine West. At both these locations there are no pedestrian traffic signals to safely cross the road.
These concerns are echoed by local resident, Sophie Ferris who said road safety risks are not being addressed fast enough.
“I feel it’s inevitable that someone will get injured, especially a child,” she said.
“I often see children running across the road and have witnessed near car collisions with pedestrians and bikes. These sites are quite busy roads but during peak hour it’s almost uncrossable.
“There are some red and white poles and the crossing lady does a wonderful job but the DTP needs to act on it a lot faster, the risk is there and they know it’s a hazard.”
Cr O’Reilly said the installation of a pedestrian operated signal at both these sites would provide a safe and controlled crossing point for school children and pedestrians as well as control car access to major roads.
Councillors moved to write to the DTP, seeking an investigation into the feasibility for an additional pedestrian crossing along the southern part of Anderson Road, Sunshine, an investigation into the feasibility for traffic lights at the school crossing on Anderson and Derby Road and the intersection of The Avenue and Fitzgerald Road, Sunshine West, as well as a clean up of the bike path near Western Ring Road.
