With support from Brimbank council, Albion residents are continuing their long-standing push for traffic lights and pedestrian signals at the intersection of Perth Avenue and Ballarat Road.
Albion Residents Group member Frank Reinthaler said safety and traffic were the main concerns, with more than 20 locals behind a bid to get VicRoads to upgrade the site.
“There have been a few accidents there; it’s not ideal access to get in and out of the area,” Mr Reinthaler said.
He said Perth Avenue’s “strange intersection” blocked access for drivers coming from Ballarat Road and there were often long queues to turn right off Perth Avenue.
“The bus stop is on the opposite side of the road and people can’t cross because there are no lights,” he said.
“I’ve heard of people asking family members to drive them rather than walk.
“There is a median strip there, but it’s still too dangerous.”
Brimbank council infrastructure and environment director Paul Younis said the introduction of signals was a priority and the council had approached VicRoads.
“Installation of traffic signals will result in better traffic flow through the immediate area around Perth Avenue,” Mr Younis said.
Despite the concerns, VicRoads said there had been just one accident at the intersection in the five years up to June last year, and the concerns were mainly for pedestrians. The project is also listed in the Albion Neighbourhood Plan, outlining key considerations such as discouraging traffic cutting through the suburb and a safe way into the future Sunshine Energy Park and the strategic redevelopment site at 520 Ballarat Road.
“Brimbank council has told us that eventually there will be a few big factories across the road and they’ll be asked to pay for lights . . . but why do we have to wait for them to decide on our future?” Mr Reinthaler said.
VicRoads’ metro north west director Patricia Liew said it had received fewer than 10 requests in the last five years to install traffic lights or pedestrian signals at the intersection of Ballarat Road and Perth Avenue.
“VicRoads understands the community concern about people crossing at the intersection,” Ms Liew said.
“We will continue to monitor this site as part of our normal road safety and traffic performance data collection process.
“A proposal for the signalisation of the intersection or installation of pedestrian- operated signals … will be considered for [future] funding.”
