Safety set for danger roads

By Alison Noonan
NOTORIOUS roads in Casey’s south are set for major safety improvements following a spate of serious collisions.
Ballarto Road, Queens Road and Pearcedale Road have been identified as three of Casey’s top five accident hot spots and will undergo a $50,000 upgrade as part of the council’s GreySpot Strategy.
The council adopted the strategy last year to list in priority what it saw as locations most in need of funding for upgrades.
The roads are assessed by accident history, traffic volume, potential for casualty accidents, sightline and geometric deficiency, exposure for vulnerable road users and potential for damage to community assets.
The sites are those that do not meet the criteria for Federal and State Government BlackSpot funding.
Ballarto Road in Cranbourne West is top of the list to address a serious ‘see through’ problem on the approach to Pearcedale Road.
The road appears to continue straight ahead but actually changes alignment with a sharp bend.
Council officers have proposed to spend $10,000 on landscaping to break up the visual road alignment and erect additional traffic guidance signs to warn motorists.
A splay will be installed at the north east corner of the Queens Road and South Boundary Road intersection in Pearcedale as the council’s second priority.
It is anticipated the $30,000 treatment will fix the problem of restricted sight lines at the intersection.
Pearcedale Road is number five on council’s to do list to relocate a power pole stay wire officers claim is perilously close to the North Road roundabout’s circulating lane.
The council said the local CFA reported numerous collisions resulting in overturned cars.
The works are expected to cost $20,000.
Other projects on the council’s GreySpot Strategy include the extension of traffic islands at the Harkaway Road/ Gardiner Street intersection in Berwick and the construction of bend and crash barriers on Raymond McMahon Boulevard in Endeavour Hills.
Four Oaks Ward councillor Rob Wilson applauded the priority list at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
“It is a good strategy. Council officers should be commended for recognising trouble spots in Casey.
“It makes it easier when we have a priority list. It means things are done in a much more orderly fashion,” he said.