By Eleanor Wilson
A local constituent is calling on the State Government to make a notorious intersection safer for pedestrians and motorists.
Shaun Grewal, who lives in Berwick, is petitioning with Gembrook MP Brad Battin to install a set of traffic lights at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Coniston Avenue, near Wilson Botanic Park.
Mr Grewal said he moved to the area about a year ago and was shocked to see there were no traffic lights between Wilson Botanic Park and the highway, which sees thousands of cars each day travelling at speeds of 80 kilometres per hour.
“In the short time I have lived here I have seen a number of near misses, ” Mr Grewal said.
“Especially for elderly people who cannot speed up to cross the road, they are relying on the cars to slow down.
“I also noticed there is a bus stop on either side of the highway so even school kids are risking their lives everyday.”
From the intersection of the highway and Wilson Botanic Park, the nearest set of traffic lights is 700 metres in either direction, says Mr Grewal.
In 2017, former City of Casey mayor and councillor Mick Morland was hit and killed by a car as he crossed the busy thoroughfare on his evening walk.
Gembrook MP Brad Battin said the discussion to install a set of traffic lights at the intersection began shortly after Mr Morland’s passing.
“I met up with Kay Morland and we thought we’d go and ask around the area and there were a few issues that were raised,“ he said.
“William Road, Coniston Avenue and York Road along the Princes Highway were the intersections that caused the greatest concern.“
Mr Morland’s wife Kay said she is grateful and excited about the prospect of the petition coming to fruition.
“At the time [of Mr Morland’s death] I wanted to do something but it was all too much, so I’m really grateful that someone has taken it up,” she said.
In order to be presented to Parliament by Mr Battin, the petition needs at least 500 signatures from locals.
Mr Grewal, along with his wife and nine-year-old daughter Tejal, have already letter-dropped over 900 flyers in the local area to promote the petition.
He said the petition has gained quite a lot of attention, both from residents in support of the plan to install traffic lights and others who believe alternate methods which do not disrupt the flow of traffic would be better suited to the area.
“You have to think about the logistics of it, an underpass is very expensive and it is not a sufficient location for an overpass, so having lights is the only economic and cost effective way to have a safer crossing there,” Mr Grewal said.
Mr Battin agreed a set of traffic lights would be the “most likely outcome” for the location.
To sign the petition, head to bit.ly/3NIKkgP
