A ROSEBUD road with an unenviable crash history is set for a safety upgrade next month.
Works will begin on Eastbourne Rd between Jetty Rd and Boneo Rd which Mornington Peninsula mayor Cr Graham Pittock describes as a “black length”.
“This road really does have a bleak crash history – including three fatalities in the past two years,” he said.
“Over a five-year period 14 casualty crashes were recorded, with three of these serious injuries.”
Common crash types include right-turning vehicles and parked vehicles.
Eastbourne Rd will be changed from two traffic lanes each way to a single traffic lane each way, with a centre median turn lane and shared parking and bike lane on both sides.
Refuge islands in the middle will make crossing the road safer for pedestrians.
Right hand turning movements will be banned out of Third Av and Foam St, and the school bus stop near Foam St will be moved closer to Rosebud RSL.
The shire says “thorough traffic modelling” was carried out for the project and feedback was sought from residents and businesses, as well as Victoria Police, CFA, schools and bus operators.
“This has resulted in minor adjustments to the design to cater for those directly impacted by the changes,” spokeswoman Kat Hodgins said.
Seawinds Ward’s Cr David Gibb said a similar treatment was successfully implemented on Jetty Rd.
“The treatment there has already demonstrated a reduction in serious injury crashes,” he said. “Much work has gone into the plans for Eastbourne Rd and we thank everyone for their input toward this project that will ensure our roads continue to remain safe for all road users.
“It’s also important to create safe bike lanes on our roads if we are to get more people out of their cars for short trips. Overseas, people cycle until very late in their lives.”
Works are expected to be completed around the end of November.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 16 August 2016
