Four important road safety projects in Drouin and Warragul have been given the go-ahead thanks to a funding boost from the Victorian Government.
$753,000 in funding has been secured through the Victorian Government's Safe Travel in Local Street (STILS) Program in partnership with TAC, Toward Zero and Regional Roads Victoria (VicRoads) to deliver the four road safety projects.
The projects are designed to improve safety and amenity in local communities by transforming roads and intersections that are high-risk or have a high-crash history.
Using this funding, Council will manage and deliver the following road safety projects:
Intersection of Young Street/Hopetoun Road in Drouin
- Construction of a new roundabout.
- Installation of new crash protection cushions around street lighting poles.
- New kerb along the median island and pedestrian refuge along the west side.
- Safer and more efficient street lighting upgrades.
Intersection of Hopetoun Road/Buln Buln Road in Drouin
- Construction of a new concrete roundabout.
- New semi-mountable median splitter islands with safer pedestrian refuges.
- Safer and more efficient street lighting upgrades.
Improvements along Young Street in Drouin
- Replacement of existing pedestrian crossing to a new safer wombat crossing west of Bank Place.
- Improved drainage works west of Bank Place.
- New line marking for a parking lane between Bank Place and Hopetoun Road.
- Installation of a new safer wombat crossing, improved drainage works and more efficient street lighting upgrades near Hope Street.
Intersection of Witton Street/Connor Street in Warragul
- Installation of new kerb outstands on Connor Street.
- New line marking for parking lanes on Connor Street.
- Improvements to the existing median islands on Witton Street.
- Relocation of existing stop lines in line with new kerb lines at the intersection.
- Pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection.
In order to select these projects for funding, Council worked with Drouin and Warragul communities, emergency services, local bus companies and key community groups to understand their road safety concerns and determine the best approach to make high-risk streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
The STILS program is the Victorian Government's commitment, in partnership with TAC, to improve the safety of local roads across regional Victoria, by awarding project grants to local Councils such as Baw Baw Shire Council.
Now that funding has been secured, Council will soon commence the tendering process. All works are expected to be completed by mid-2021.
As stated by Mayor Cr Danny Goss
"We're pleased to partner with the Victorian Government to transform these notorious local roads and intersections to significantly reduce driver risks, accidents and near-misses."
Image: A new roundabout is on the way to improve safety at the Young Street/Hopetoun Road intersection in Drouin.
