By Brendan Rees
Two black spot roads in Endeavour Hills that have contributed to multiple collisions are being upgraded after Casey Council won Federal Government funding.
Power Road and Churchill Park Drive were identified as black spots following nine reported injury collisions during a five-year assessment period from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2017.
Casey council announced it was successful in securing $81, 564 at an October meeting to upgrade the two roads.
New vehicle-activated flashing light kangaroo warning signs have been installed to “better highlight to road users the presence of kangaroos in the area”.
Casey manager of city and asset planning Keri New said of the reported injury collisions, five resulted in serious injuries to the vehicle occupant and four resulted in minor injuries
“Eight of the accidents involved collisions with kangaroos, predominantly during the dusk to dawn period,” she said.
Ms New said the virtual fencing bollards to be installed elsewhere on Churchill Park Drive, are not included as part of the Blackspot project and are being fully funded by council.
“Following comprehensive treatments of former blackspot sites on Casey roads there are no other local road sites currently under consideration as candidate blackspot projects,” she said.
“Council will therefore not submit any applications to the 2020-21 Federal government Infrastructure Investment Black Spot Program”.
Council considered North Road in Cranbourne South for submission under the Black Spot Program but was advised by VicRoads that the proposal to install a guardrail on both sides of North Road between East Road and Maywood Road “would not address all four crash types on this section of road,” according to a council document.
This project as therefore been listed for consideration in council’s grey sport program.
The document also said council currently had 16 black spots and 14 black lengths on council managed roads that were considered as part of the application process.
“Of these locations, various improvements have been undertaken in recent years at the majority of current black spot and black length locations using funding approved through previous Federal Government funded programs, including the Black Spot Program, as well as funding via the New and Improved Roads Program in council’s Capital Works Program,” it said.
