By Belinda Nolan
COMMUNITY leaders have applauded a State Government decision to splash more than $3 million on road safety upgrades in Brimbank but insist more needed to be done to prevent further fatalities.
Local MPs Marlene Kairouz and Telmo Languiller recently announced funding for a number of projects aimed to reduce crashes and tackle congestion on the municipality’s notoriously accident prone roads.
The funding will see $2.7 million spent on crash treatments and safety improvements to the Western Highway from McIntyre Rd to Station Rd in Deer Park.
The works will include the installation of a safety barrier and guard fence, skid resistant pavement and the removal of roadside hazards.
A further $380,000 will be spent on installing variable speed limit signs along the Main Rd West shopping strip and pedestrian signals outside St Albans High School on Main Rd East.
The Brimbank community has welcomed the announcement after it had spent years campaigning for safety improvements to reduce road trauma.
St Albans Traders Association spokesman Asip Demiri said he was delighted with the news but believed more needed to be done to make roads safer.
“It’s definitely a step in the right direction but there is certainly more work that needs to be done in St Albans and across the whole of Brimbank.”
Mr Demiri called on the government to commit to grade separations of the St Albans and Main Rd level crossings, which have been the scenes of a spate of accidents over the years.
He has also been leading the push for upgrades to the pedestrian rail crossing in St Albans Rd.
This was where a woman was tragically killed this month.
Kerry Dowsley from St Albans High School said she was thrilled pedestrian signals were finally being installed.
“It can be a challenge for our crossing supervisors and this will certainly make their job easier,” she said.
St Albans Business Group chairman Sam Agricola said the government was beginning to listen to residents’ concerns.
However he stressed there were many more projects that needed urgent attention.
Ms Kairouz said the improvements would greatly enhance safety, while combating congestion.
