By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A HAZARDOUS Hampton Park intersection will finally see a long-awaited upgrade, the State Government confirmed this week.
But an avid campaigner who was pivotal in putting together a 1000-signature petition roughly five years ago calling for action at the intersection of Pound and Shrives roads believes traffic lights are the main priority for the site but have not been included in the proposed plan.
Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley was joined by local residents on Tuesday to confirm the $5.2 million upgrade, expected to be finished by June 2017. The upgrade will see a two-lane roundabout installed at the intersection to improve safety.
Planning is underway for the project which will also include service relocations, new guard fencing, bus stop relocations, tree removal and new street lighting.
“We’re committed to ending the neglect and will get on with the job of making our roads safer,” Ms Graley said.
“Thank you to everyone who jumped aboard our campaign for safety improvements at this intersection, it’s through your efforts that we have secured this much needed upgrade.”
While welcoming the upgrade, Narre Warren resident Kylie Christmas indicated that she and others had been calling for traffic lights to be installed at the site since they started campaigning. She also voiced concern that a roundabout may not be enough to ease congestion.
“I’m not sure if a roundabout is the answer. I would like to see a reconsideration for lights at that site,” she said.
“But anything’s better than what it is now.”
When asked by the News if traffic lights at the intersection were on the cards, Ms Graley said VicRoads believed the proposed upgrade would reduce the number and severity of crashes at the site.
“Road safety experts advise that the preferred option at this location was a roundabout due to a number of factors including land acquisition and improved safety for all road users,” she said.
