VicRoads eyes highway improvements

VICROADS may address a dangerous intersection at Leongatha South in the wake of community feedback.
VicRoads is now seeking the public’s suggestions for improving safety along the Bass Highway from Leongatha to Anderson, with a view to establishing a business case for works to submit to the State Government for funding.
The Leongatha South intersection – of the highway and Leongatha South-Outtrim Road – has been the scene of many crashes, including a fatality.
On an interactive VicRoads website gathering feedback, people called for turning lanes on the highway at the intersection and for better visibility, given crests either side of the intersection, on the highway.
Website comments included:
• “Traffic slowing or stopped waiting to turn presents a danger to through traffic on Bass Highway, which is travelling at speed and unable to safely go around turning traffic”;
• “Highly dangerous intersection. A number of accidents including fatalities and many more near misses in recent times. Vision from all aspects of this intersection is poor”; and
• “Turning right into the Leongatha South-Outtrim Road from the Bass Highway is always concerning. There is no room for cars to go around you with many screeching the brakes so a dedicated turning lane would help. Also the rise from Inverloch way to this intersection has caused accidents and fatalities at this intersection.”
VicRoads staff addressed South Gippsland Shire Council about the Bass Highway Planning Study last Wednesday.
Planning manager Pas Monacella said short term safety improvements would be investigated but significant changes would be made over 20 years.
He said many accidents had occurred on the highway between Leongatha and Inverloch, and “we recognise the route is not up to the appropriate standards”.
The highway needs improving to carry increasing tourist and residential traffic, and given Wonthaggi and Leongatha have been identified as regional growth areas by the State Government.
On the website, other people have described the highway from Leongatha to Inverloch as too narrow with no shoulder.
“This is dangerous when you encounter cyclists and there is traffic coming the other way. It is also dangerous with school buses stopping taking up the whole lane because they can’t get off the road,” one person commented.
Others called for overtaking lanes, the sealing of Outtrim-Inverloch Road and a dedicated right hand turn lane at the intersection of Koonwarra-Inverloch Road.
Between Wonthaggi and Inverloch, people have called for overtaking lanes, as many older drivers travel at 80km/h; wider shoulders; and a turning lane into Carneys Road, Wonthaggi.
Passing lanes were suggested between Kilcunda and Dalyston, and Dalyston and Wonthaggi; and improvements to intersections with Ullathornes Road at Inverloch and Mabilia Road at Kilcunda.
Mr Monacella said VicRoads would also explore a route around Wonthaggi.
He said the highway between Wonthaggi and Anderson was now carrying 9000 vehicles a day but could take up to 15,000 vehicles daily in the future.
Mr Monacella said he believed wire rope barriers would be installed on the highway eventually and compared their life-saving benefits to seat belts, saying they would be a “game changer”.
To have your say on the Bass Highway, go to the website https://engage.vicroads.vic.gov.au/basshighway before Sunday, March 18.

Time to save lives: from left, VicRoads staff, regional engagement adviser Natalie Szabo, acting team leader planning Denis Heily and planning manager Pas Monacella discuss the state of the Bass Highway with South Gippsland Shire Council mayor Cr Lorraine Brunt last Wednesday.

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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Feb 27 2018. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry