By Max Davies
Pedestrian safety at the intersection of Whittlesea’s Church and Beech streets has become a concern following a series of incidents in the past few months.
The intersection features pedestrian crossings on both the north and east sides of the roundabout, however neither are controlled by traffic lights and the east-west orientation of Beech Street has caused issues with pedestrian and vehicle visibility in the afternoon sun.
Earlier this year an elderly lady was injured after being hit by a vehicle while crossing at the designated location, prompting the City of Whittlesea, Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell and Senior Sergeant Dean Pickering to assess the intersection and push for improvements.
There is also concern for the safety of children, as students from nearby St Mary’s Parish Primary School often use the crossings to access Whittlesea’s main shopping strip.
Mr Mitchell said he was lobbying with the City of Whittlesea council and the State Government to work out what could be done.
“We’ve seen cars speeding through and pedestrians not using the actual crossings, which means there’s been plenty of near misses and a lady that got hit about two months ago,” he said.
“Working out what to do is what will take a long time because of all the different views from the community, which have ranged from making no changes to substantial works.
“It’s about figuring something out that will benefit everyone.”
City of Whittlesea chief executive Craig Lloyd said council was aware of the issues but was unable to act on its own.
“While council is responsible for Church Street, Beech Street, also knowns as Whittlesea-Yea Road, is a state road and the responsibility of the State Government,” he said.
“We are advocating to the State Government to find a solution and council recently met with the Department of Transport and Planning and Victoria Police on-site to discuss potential improvements.”
Changes to the intersection could involve moving the pedestrian crossings away from the roundabout, installing traffic lights or reducing speed limits in the area.
A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said for the five year period ending 31 December 2022, there was one reported crash at the roundabout.
“To improve safety at the Church and Beech streets roundabout in Whittlesea, we installed additional signs, worked with council to trim vegetation, and improved pavement markings,” they said.
“We urge all road users to take care when travelling through roundabouts. Whether you’re walking, riding or driving, everyone has a role to play in keeping safe on our roads.”
