A Sydenham resident has raised concerns about drivers taking risky shortcuts to avoid long waits at a busy intersection, putting locals in danger.
Resident Neil Hunichen said motorists driving south on Kings Road often turn left onto Hume Drive east, then perform U-turns in residential driveways to avoid waiting at the intersection to turn right onto Hume Drive west.
“It’s crazy … because of their impatience, some of this is done at dangerous speeds and [could] potentially cause a crash with drivers heading in both directions,” Mr Hunichen said.
Impatient drivers also use nearby Albertine Crescent as a shortcut to avoid the same right-hand turn, he said.
“A driver going way too fast almost hit my granddaughter on her bicycle. I yelled so loud that neighbours came out, and after talking, we all realised our once-quiet street had become a speeding thoroughfare,” Mr Hunichen said.
He is calling on Brimbank council to install speed humps on Albertine Crescent to slow drivers, and for the state government to add extra right-hand turn lanes at Kings Road and Hume Drive to reduce wait times.
A Brimbank council spokesperson said officers had investigated traffic conditions on Albertine Crescent and were proposing road humps to improve safety and discourage motorists from using the street as a shortcut.
“Residents will be updated via a letter from council in the coming weeks,” the spokesperson said.
During the November council meeting, council said it currently had no plans to reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h in the area.
The spokesperson added council has worked with the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) on nearby intersection management.
“The department has advised that signal timing changes implemented in early 2025 are operating optimally and that any major upgrades would be subject to state funding,” the spokesperson said.
DTP told Star Weekly decisions about safety upgrades consider multiple factors, including potential improvements to safety or congestion, number of road users, vulnerable road users, historical safety records, and the impact on surrounding roads.
“We will continue to monitor the intersection … and consider any necessary safety upgrades as part of future planning for Victoria’s road network,” a DTP spokesperson said.
