Bill Davis, Carolyn Davis, Irwin Sinclair, grand-daughter Chelsi, and Bev
By Lia Bichel
A DEATH trap waiting to happen … that’s what residents are calling a section of Shrives Road in Narre Warren South.
Residents who live in Halcyon Way and Dewwy Road can walk to Narre Warren shops and train station along a dirt walking trail that runs parallel to Shrives Road.
But residents said the path was divided by a creek, which meant they had to risk their lives by “zig-zagging” their away across the busy Shrives Road bridge.
“A walking bridge is going to be implemented to try to make things easier, but it’s on the wrong side of the road,” Shrives Road resident Irwin Sinclair said.
“It would be nice if we didn’t have to cross Shrives Road to access the walking bridge.”
Mr Sinclair and his wife, Bev, often mind their two young grandchildren and said they feared for their lives and their children’s safety when they had to push a pram on Shrives Road.
Halcyon Way resident Bill Davis said he believed people would continue walking on the Shrives Road traffic bridge instead of crossing the road to use the new pedestrian bridge.
He said he has been contacting local politicians for the past five years in an attempt to have proper safety measures implemented for residents who have to make the trek across the road.
In his letter to former Narre Warren South MP Dale Wilson on 31 May, 2005, Mr Davis wrote of his daily troubles when walking to the train station.
“This practice has become highly dangerous,” Mr Davis wrote.
“It now requires watching, waiting, double checking in both directions and running flat out for 20 to 25 metres to avoid being passed by a vehicle on the bridge.”
He stated in the letter that he wanted a pedestrian bridge attached to the existing bridge, a reduced speed limit, signs to warn motorists of crossing pedestrians and suitable lighting on the road.
“I wrote to a local member five years ago and never received a reply, I rang council as well,” he said.
“I finally gave up in disgust.”
City of Casey Manager Transport Paul Hamilton acknowledged that many Halcyon Way residents have to cross Shrives Road to access the new path and bridge, but said many options were investigated while creating the project.
“There are significant constraints affecting the location of paths and bridges in Shrives Road and across the Hallam Main Drain and these have had to be taken into account when selecting the location of the bridge crossings,” he said.
Mr Hamilton said pedestrians would be able to cross at Shrives Road, with the added safety of a pedestrian refuge which would be part of the project.
