The speed limits on roads in two areas of the Kyabram township will change in coming weeks in response to community concerns following a number of road accidents and near misses in the area.
Campaspe Shire Council's Director Infrastructure Kate Lemon said the speed zone changes had been heavily advocated for by Council in an effort to make the area safer for all road users.
The process of changing the speed limit on a local road involves applying to the Department of Transport and Planning for review and approval of the proposed changes.
"These changes have been in discussion for some time, and it is great that we have been able to work collaboratively with Department of Transport and Planning to take in a broader view and make the area safer," Ms Lemon said.
The first area set for change involves Breen Avenue, Cooma Road, South Boundary Road and Lake Road. The speed limit on Breen Avenue between Solar Boulevarde and Cooma Road will be reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h; the limit on South Boundary Road between Cooma Road and McEwen Road will become a consistent 80km/h; and the 60km/h zone on Lake Road will be extended to South Boundary Road.
The second area involves Bolitho Road and Edis Street in Kyabram. The speed limit on Bolitho Road will be reduced from 100km/h to 60km/h from south of Thompsons Lane to the Allan Street intersection; the limit on Edis Street between Bolitho Road and O'Keefe Street will be reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h; and the speed limit on Edis Street between O'Keefe Street and Albion Street will be reduced from 60km/h to 50km/h.
The new speed zones will have yellow and black signage advising road users of the new limits for a period of three months from the date of implementation of the new zones.
In addition to the above-mentioned changes, the DTP has approved an extension of the 80km/h speed limit zone on the DTP-owned-and-managed McEwen Road south of South Boundary Road in response to the increase in traffic. The change will improve the consistency of speed zones in the area and reduce the risk to road users at the intersection of McEwen Road and South Boundary Road. The DTP has also approved a speed reduction from 60km/h to 50km/h on Albion Street and Edis Street (west of Albion Street). Both these roads are DTP-owned-and-managed and the changes support Council's speed zone reductions by improving the safety of the intersection of Albion Street and Edis Street as well as the new residential developments on the east side of Kyabram.
Council's Operations team will begin the installation of the new speed zone signage on 10 February.
