CYCLISTS are throwing their support behind the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s push to upgrade two major intersections in Mornington, citing safety concerns for both riders and pedestrians. The council is currently advocating to improve the intersections of Mornington-Tyabb Rd/Racecourse Rd, and Mornington-Tyabb Rd/Nepean Hwy, which are both state-owned and managed.
Graeme Rocke, leader of the U3A Leisure Riders Group, said they were particularly supportive of traffic lights to be installed at the Racecourse Rd intersection as it “is treacherous for both pedestrians and cyclists”.
“One of our riders had a near incident there early this year. If we are serious about getting kids active and walking and riding to school, these lights are essential,” he said.
“We also support the widening of this section of road adjacent to the intersection, including on-road bike lanes for cyclists, and completing the existing disconnected paths on both sides of Mornington-Tyabb Rd between these two major intersections, for people walking, those with mobility aids, and less confident cyclists, especially children,” Rocke, who is also convenor of the Mornington Community Safelink Group, said.
The Mornington Community Safelink section of the Peninsula Trail will connect Moorooduc Station to Mornington along the old railway line and sits with the proposed Mornington-Tyabb Road intersection upgrades on the council priority list.
Rocke said the Safelink would also help reduce traffic congestion on Bungower Rd, especially around school times by encouraging kids to walk and ride to school safely.
“Both of these initiatives are entirely consistent with state government and council aspirations for adoption of active transport, and we encourage them to deliver these two transformational initiatives.”
Both intersections are on the council’s major advocacy priorities for state road funding.
Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said Mornington-Tyabb Rd was managed by the state government and “was a key arterial corridor feeding into Mornington, connecting it to metropolitan Melbourne and the rest of the peninsula”.
“Council is advocating for the state government to commit $50m for the signalisation of the Mornington-Tyabb Rd/Racecourse Rd intersection, improvements to the Mornington-Tyabb Rd/Nepean Hwy intersection, and improvements along the corridor between the two intersections,” he said.
“This project has the potential to significantly improve life for the thousands of people who live or work around Mornington and it’s one of council’s key advocacy priorities for road funding. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with the state government.”
Councillors at their 22 July meeting resolved to continue to advocate to the state government for transport improvement works along Mornington-Tyabb Rd, with an “upgrade of capacity and safety (including pedestrian safety and accessibility) at the Mornington-Tyabb Rd/Racecourse Rd intersection being the highest initial priority, for implementation within the next three years”.
They also voted to consider funding a corridor assessment of Bungower Rd in the 2026-27 budget that the shire “considers funding for highest priority transport improvement works as part of future council budgets”.
First published in the Mornington News – 2 September 2025
