By Oscar Parry
Macedon Ranges council is calling for state government action and collaboration towards safety improvements at a notorious intersection in Woodend.
At the December 18 council meeting, councillor Janet Pearce called for council to write to Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne about concerns for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles at the intersection of Urquhart Street and High Street in Woodend.
It also called for an urgent written response on when a recommendation for improvements to the intersection will be made available for community feedback.
Cr Pearce said that after Coles Woodend opened adjacent to the intersection in December 2018, the “immediate issues became apparent” from community, CFA, and Victoria Police reports to the council regarding traffic congestion, near-misses and safety issues for pedestrians and drivers.
“I wasn’t aware of any issues at the intersection prior to this,” Cr Pearce said.
Cr Pearce said at the time of applying for a permit for its site, Coles had provided traffic data which was used to approved the design of the site.
She said the initial concerns were reported to what was Regional Roads at the time, now the Department of Transport, and she later raised a notice of motion to organise a meeting with the director of Regional Roads.
After this meeting, a corridor study extended to Ashbourne Road and up to Romsey Road was completed and sent to Regional Roads
“We have since been waiting for … a response [and] asking for some updates,” Cr Pearce said.
“Department of Transport is responsible for High Street, but we need to collaborate, because we are responsible for the roads … around that area,” she said.
A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said the department is working with council on options for a safety upgrade at the intersection.
Star Weekly understands that the final plans will be released to the public later this year.
A spokesperson for Coles declined to comment.
