Latrobe City Council is calling on the Victorian Minister for Public and Active Transport, and Minister for Roads and Road Safety to urgently complete and activate traffic lights for a dangerous intersection in Traralgon.
The project received funding in 2018, and construction works at the Bank Street and Princes Highway intersection have already been completed. The Council says the outstanding component for the project is the design and installation of the traffic lights, which must also be integrated with the nearby train signalling system.
Without the traffic lights in operation, several accidents and near misses have been reported, raising significant safety concerns within the community, said Councillor, Joanna Campbell.
At the February meeting of Latrobe City Council, a Notice of Motion was introduced, and Councillors unanimously supported a request for the urgent activation of the traffic lights. Council will also seek a clear and publicly available timeline outlining when the traffic lights will be switched on.
“Unfortunately several accidents have occurred at the intersection and community concern is growing that the project won’t be finalised this year,” said Cr Campbell.
“The funding was announced eight years ago and still has not delivered on keeping our community safe.”
The Council says it has sought regular updates from the Department of Transport regarding the critical safety upgrades.
“Our community deserves an accurate timeline for the intersection to operate with lights to make it safe for all road users,” said Mayor, Sharon Gibson.
“The explanation that the traffic lights need to be integrated with the rail signalling system does not change the fact that funded infrastructure announced in 2018 is still not operational,” she said.
