Three intersections in the City of Casey have been named among the most dangerous in the outer south east, according to RACV’s 2025 My Melbourne Road survey.
The survey, which gathered 12,400 responses from Victorian road users, identified 84 of Melbourne’s most hazardous intersections based on crash data, traffic volume, and design flaws.
In the City of Casey, three intersections made the list, including Clyde-Five Ways Road and Ballarto Road (Clyde), South Gippsland Highway and Cranbourne Home Shopping Centre (Cranbourne), and South Gippsland Highway and Sladen Street (Cranbourne).
An additional intersection, Clyde-Five Ways Road and South Gippsland Highway (Devon Meadows), was identified by participants.
RACV Head of Policy James Williams said all three Casey intersections were highlighted by both crash data and community feedback.
For the Clyde-Five Ways Road and Ballarto Road intersection, Mr Williams said the issue is infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with the suburb’s rapid growth.
“We’re seeing a lot of recent development right on that corner and in very close proximity,” he said.
“So there’s increasing traffic flows, but the infrastructure is not keeping pace. We can see that, specifically, the line markings are very poor. It’s rough road surfaces, poor line markings, poor lighting, and a very narrow shoulder.
“And what we mean by shoulder is the edge of the road. It turns into gravel very quickly, and mud, and then grass.”
Cranbourne’s South Gippsland Highway and Home Shopping Centre intersection was another site of collisions and near misses.
“The problem is more the visibility and a number of accidents we’re having with people exiting that intersection,” Mr Williams said.
According to him, with a traffic island in the middle of South Gippsland Highway, some drivers are performing risky right turns across the southbound lanes to enter the centre.
“We’ve had collisions there crossing the Highway and several near misses and issues with people turning out of the centre,” Mr Williams said.
“Better signage and lighting could go there, and also you might want to have a look at whether that needs to be signalised or whether that’s appropriate that they can turn right there into the centre under the current infrastructure.”
Further north in the Cranbourne CBD, RACV noted issues at South Gippsland Highway and Sladen Street, where high traffic volumes mix with pedestrian activity and shopping traffic.
“We’ve got this tension here between activity and shopping destination and dining destination on one hand, but also on the other hand, a major through road across another arterial road,” Mr Williams said.
“We’re also seeing speeding, red-light running and congestion frustrations.
“It’s an interesting dichotomy here because you almost feel you’re on the edge of the country. People might want to drive like they’re in the country, but actually, you’re in suburbia.”
City of Casey Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen said Casey’s growing population needs more infrastructure investment than ever before.
“Casey’s rapid population growth is leading to record car ownership and increased pressure on our community’s roads and transport network,” he said.
“While the State Government is responsible for the main arterial roads, we are committed to working with all levels of government to ensure the best outcomes for our community.”
City of Casey Manager City and Asset Planning Keri New said council has several priority projects, which align with the community’s needs, and that have been identified in the RACV survey.
“Clyde-Five Ways Road and Ballarto Road (Clyde) forms part of our broader advocacy initiative for the Clyde Road corridor. Upgrading this corridor is essential to improving safety and easing congestion, with plans to duplicate 8km of arterial road and upgrade multiple high-risk intersections,” she said.
“This includes the installation of traffic signals at the Clyde-Five Ways Road and Ballarto Road intersection, which is one of the city’s most dangerous.”
She said the Clyde-Five Ways Road and South Gippsland Highway intersection is also part of the corridor upgrade between Thompsons Road and South Gippsland Highway, though much of the route remains unfunded.
“Council is also calling for a streetscape upgrade along South Gippsland Highway (High Street), which includes reducing speed limits, narrowing traffic lanes from six to four, and installing a new signalised intersection at Lyall Street and High Street,” she said.
“Additionally, upgrades at the South Gippsland Highway and Sladen Street intersection are needed to enhance pedestrian safety and reduce traffic conflicts.
“We also recognise the safety concerns at the South Gippsland Highway and Cranbourne Home Shopping Centre intersection. Between January 2020 and December 2024, there were 67 recorded casualty crashes at intersections along South Gippsland Highway between Thompsons Road and Lesdon Avenue, including 27 serious injury accidents. “Council fully supports any safety improvements at these intersections to help protect our community.”
A Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) spokesperson said: “We’re working hard to improve our roads and deliver safer infrastructure right across the state — making record investments to make sure families get home safe and sooner.
“Works are underway to upgrade intersections at Clyde-Five Ways Road, South Gippsland Highway and Fisheries Road – which will improve traffic flow and safety.
“We are investing more than $1.1 billion to deliver life-saving infrastructure as part of our road safety strategy, including $412 million of new funding this year to reduce road trauma.”
Big Build Roads is upgrading the intersections of Clyde-Five Ways Road and South Gippsland Highway and Fisheries Road and South Gippsland Highway in Devon Meadows on behalf of Transport Victoria, with planning and design work currently underway.
The upgrade will add traffic lights to the intersection of Clyde-Five Ways Road and South Gippsland Highway, traffic lights to the intersection of Fisheries Road and South Gippsland Highway and turn lanes on Clyde-Five Ways Road and Fisheries Road.
More information can be found here: transport.vic.gov.au/news-and-resources/projects/south-gippsland-highway-and-clyde-five-ways-road-intersection-upgrade.
