Elsie Lange
A Hume councillor has renewed his call for the state government to make the recently removed temporary traffic lights at Barkly and Macedon streets in Sunbury permanent, and fastrack capital works to do so.
Jacksons Ward councillor Jack Medcraft said the lights, which had been installed during the Gap Road level crossing removal works, had made it easier for residents to get from side streets onto Macedon Street.
“The railway underpass works necessitated traffic signals to allow cars to get to Macedon Street from Jacksons Hill,” Cr Medcraft said.
“They took a little while to get used to, but most people were happy with the fact they could get … onto Macedon Street.”
“[The lights] saved a few accidents. That intersection is really notorious for getting T-boned.
“It alleviated that problem, what we’ve got now is an intersection which people think still have lights on them.”
Sunbury MP Josh Bull said the lights were only installed as a temporary measure, but the Department of Transport (DOT) was now assessing further opportunities for best traffic treatment for Barkly and Macedon streets.
“Once that work has been undertaken we’ll make some further comments,” Mr Bull said.
“They were always a temporary installation, they were temporary lights. I’ve heard a range of different views about whether we should make them more permanent.
“DOT will consider the matter further and we will make further announcements in due course.”
In August, Hume council voted to write to the state government to request the lights be made long term as soon as possible.
Cr Medcraft said residents had expressed to him they would like to see this happen.
“A number of people have said the lights are a great idea and they would like to see them stay,” he said.
“If you did a straw poll, I think there’d be a hell of a lot more in favour.”
