Pedestrians

By Bridget Brady
A LEGALLY blind man says pedestrians have not been catered for during upgrades to a notorious Lynbrook intersection.
Barry Clarke, 65, said his safety was still at risk when he crossed the intersection of Hallam and Ormond roads because no pedestrian crossing was installed when interim traffic lights were put up a few months ago.
The lights were installed along with warning signs and the speed limit lowered on Hallam Road after two fatal collisions in two weeks at the intersection that claimed five lives.
Mr Clarke, who still has peripheral vision but has trouble judging distance, said it would have made sense to have a “green man” for pedestrians.
“I know they are only interim, but they still never thought of the pedestrians,” Mr Clarke said.
“It’s not just for me. Kids cross here to go to school and it’s for women with prams and the safety of everyone. I suppose it’s more principle than anything.”
Mr Clarke said the lights succeeded in slowing traffic down. “But if someone’s in a hurry, I’m in trouble. “A crossing gives you some sort of security.”
The lack of footpaths leading up to the intersection from the South Gippsland Highway was also something Mr Clarke said he had asked for many years ago.
He said a footpath needed to be built on the west side of Hallam Road towards Hampton Park so that people did not need to cross at the intersection to access footpaths on the other side.
VicRoads failed to comment before the News went to print.
Casey’s manager of transport Paul Hamilton said the council had discussed the need for pedestrian facilities at the intersection with VicRoads.