Two school children struck by cars and injured within a week of each other at Woodend have prompted calls for urgent road safety measures.
The incidents occurred at Romsey Road on April 21 and April 28 when children were walking home from school. Both children required medical care and one was taken by road ambulance to hospital for their injuries.
School parents have been campaigning for safety improvements to this same location, near High Street, for several years.
“The two incidents were so distressing and it is so frustrating that we have been saying for so long that this intersection needs safety improvements,” Woodend parent Kathryn Tollerud told Express.
“There has been ample time for action to have been taken. My fear is that we are waiting for a fatality.”
Ms Tollerud said children and their families were scared to cross at Romsey Road where pathways direct pedestrians.
“It’s an incredibly busy road and there’s no crossing, but it’s the only way for pedestrians walking from Woodend North into the township,” she said.
Ms Tollerud launched a petition for safety works in January, which gained about 160 signatures.
The Woodend school community has since called for urgent safety intervention for the road, which is managed by the Department of Transport and Planning.
Last week, Macedon Ranges mayor Cr Kate Kendall and CEO Bernie O’Sullivan also sought urgent state government intervention.
In a letter to Minister for Roads Ros Spence they stated the council had previously raised concerns regarding pedestrian safety at this location with DTP. They highlighted community petitions and direct correspondence from community members to the minister about the road.
The council called for DTP to undertake an urgent and comprehensive assessment of the location, including the consideration of a safe, controlled pedestrian crossing.
Council also sought a review of speed environment and traffic conditions, assessment of sight lines, traffic volumes and pedestrian movements, and identification of interim safety measures.
“Romsey Road needs a solution now,” Cr Kendall told the Express.
On Saturday, local MP Mary-Anne Thomas said she had been working with the minister to progress safety improvements.
For the short term, she said DTP had installed additional signage to better alert drivers that children crossed at that location.
The department is also working with MRSC on the best design for a new footpath and crossing. Ms Thomas said the next step would be identifying the safest option for a pedestrian refuge in the centre of the road.
