Casey councillors unanimously backed an urgent motion calling for the government to fast-track approval for signal changes at the notorious intersection of Pattersons and Tuckers Road.
At the October Council Meeting, Cr Jennifer Dizon moved an urgent motion directing the Council to write to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to seek urgent assessment and approval of the Council’s traffic signal change application for the intersection of Pattersons and Tuckers Road in Clyde North, noting the ongoing traffic accidents and risk to public safety.
“We recently received from the DTP that the Council’s application will take at least another 4 to 6 months to process,” Cr Dizon said at the meeting.
She said residents had reported multiple crashes every week.
“This has been an ongoing issue for years before we were even elected last year,” she said at the meeting.
“For the public and councillors’ reference, I’ve been advised that the intersection was constructed within the last decade. And at that time, it met all relevant design and safety standards. It’s a signalised intersection with partially controlled right turn movements on each leg, which was considered best practice when built.
“However, as of May, new regulations now require that all new signalised intersections include fully controlled right turn movements to enhance safety and reduce conflict points.
“Unfortunately, this intersection has seen a clear crash trend where right-turning vehicles are failing to give way to oncoming traffic. This is creating a genuine safety risk for residents.”
Star News reported this issue back in early September. Some residents told Star News that the signal design flaw had led to countless accidents, sometimes multiple in a single day.
Council’s earlier Federal Black Spot funding application for upgrades was unsuccessful, but a second submission has been made this year.
In the meantime, Casey has implemented interim safety measures, such as new line-marking and extra signage, and is now willing to fund the works itself, pending DTP approval.
“I’ve been advised that council is ready to proceed with the works without external funding, given the ongoing crashes at this intersection, but this depends on DTP’s capacity to schedule and approve the works,” Cr Dizon said.
Several councillors voiced strong support at the meeting.
Cr Lynette Pereira warned against waiting for a tragedy before upgrades occur, recalling a fatal 2009 crash at another Casey intersection where four young people died.
“I don’t want to see this happening here. I don’t want someone to die before those lights go up,” she said.
“This is an existing problem, whether it’s 3 accidents a week or 20 accidents. It’s just a matter of time before someone is killed, and there are already injured people there.
“I think we really don’t have a choice, and we really need to put some pressure on to get this done and fixed as quickly as possible.”
To read the previous story: cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au/news/2025-09-03/clyde-north-residents-demand-action-at-pattersons-and-tuckers-road-intersection/
