Pedestrian safety improvements will begin this month where two school children were struck by vehicles during two separate incidents at Woodend in April.
The incidents occurred at Romsey Road on April 21 and April 28 when children were walking home from school. Both 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 busy roadway, near High Street, for several years.
The April incidents prompted an immediate short-term fix with signage, council and community advocacy to the state government, and now more permanent works are being delivered and further explored.
Last week, Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas announced more than $179,000 towards safety upgrades, through the state government’s Flexible Local Transport Solutions Program.
“This investment will make Woodend roads safer for school kids, residents and anyone visiting the community,” she said.
Upgrades will include relocation of the existing pedestrian crossing point on Romsey Road away from the High Street intersection.
The new location is expected to increase visibility for both pedestrians and drivers, while new footpaths and pedestrian fencing will guide pedestrians towards the new crossing point.
Connections to Woodend Primary School and St Ambrose Primary School will also be improved with new footpaths.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council is expected to undertake the works from July this year, with options for further safety improvements to be considered.
Member for Northern Victoria Georgie Purcell also helped advocate for action in taking the community’s message to parliament.
“Every child should be safe travelling to and from school, and I’m so grateful to the incredible parents who didn’t back down,” she said.
Woodend parent Kathryn Tollerud launched a petition for safety works back in January, which gained about 160 signatures.
Ms Tollerud told the Express the planned safety improvements were “an incredible reaction”.
“Relocating that crossing really is taking away those blind spots and they were a huge part of the problem. It really will change that visibility,” she said.
“It’s incredible what (the council and state government has) done for the community and that they’ve taken community safety seriously. Any time that we see improvements like this, is something to celebrate.”
While Ms Tollerud was pleased to see action, she said residents were also eager to see what other improvements could be made.
In correspondence with the Department of Transport about the intersection, the council had called for an urgent and comprehensive assessment of the location. This included 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.
