By Marcus Uhe
“Does someone have to die for them to do something about this intersection?” asks Clyde resident Mick Ferrari.
The meeting of Ballarto Road and Clyde-Five Ways road is becoming a hotspot for dangerous collisions.
The Clyde Fire Brigade has been called to five incidents there so far in 2022, including two in April within the space of three days, according to volunteer firefighter Mel Symington.
On Tuesday 26 April, a car landed on its roof in a nearby paddock opposite the service station on the eastern side of Clyde-Five Ways road.
It’s so problematic that a local farmer whose property is located on the corner now refuses to keep livestock in the paddock closest to the road due to repeated damage to his fences.
A number of factors are contributing to the issue.
The long grass on at the top of the hill on the North-Western corner between the roads and Cottle Drive has created a visibility issue for road users travelling East on Ballarto Road towards Cardinia and Koo Wee Rup.
That bank of land also has two road safety signs which can obstruct the view for motorists.
Mr Ferrari drives a ute with an elevated driver’s seat, but he still struggles with visibility.
“I drive a (Toyota) Hilux so I’m up a bit higher and I cannot see oncoming traffic,” Mr Ferrari says.
“I have to nose-out over the line.
“Normal sedans, how are they supposed to see? They have to have their bonnet over the line.”
Without traffic lights or a roundabout, drivers wanting to cross Clyde Five-Ways Road and stay on Ballarto must give way to traffic moving at up 80 kilometres per hour coming up a hill in both directions.
Furthermore, long trucks turning left onto Ballarto Road travelling North from Devon Meadows and Five Ways are required to swing dangerously into oncoming traffic in order to complete the turn.
Clyde Primary School is a few hundred metres away from the intersection, adding to the sense of urgency, and creating another hazard with the reduction in speed from 80 kilometres per hour down to 40 during peak traffic times.
A quick inspection of the kerbs and grass patches surrounding the intersection shows track marks, dead grass, strewn road signs and debris from recent accidents.
State member for Bass Jordan Crugnale sympathises with her constituents.
“The entire stretch of the Clyde-Five Ways Road needs to be duplicated and works done at the various intersections to cater for the increase in traffic in this fast growing area of Clyde and Clyde North and it is something I have been fiercely advocating for as a priority when meeting with Ministers and through our budget process,” Ms Crugnale said.
“There have been numerous accidents at this intersection including in the last few months and thank you to all our first responders for getting to the scene quickly and providing assistance.
“Department of Transport crews will be delivering maintenance upgrades at the intersection to improve safety.
“For the safety of everyone travelling on our roads, including pedestrians and cyclists, it is so important that drivers remain focused, not be in a hurry and drive to the conditions of the road.”
Maintenance to be undertaken by the Department of Transport includes repainting the faded line markings.
Records kept by the Department between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2021 indicate there were six crashes reported at that intersection with one resulting in serious injury.
Sergeant Pat McGivagan from Casey Highway Patrol said of the five incidents that they had been called to this year, on each occasion the cause was determined to be drivers failing to obey give way signs on Ballarto Road.
Sergeant McGivagan is calling for motorists to adopt a common-sense approach.
“All we ask people to do is to take care and obey the give way sign and show a bit of patience,” he said.
“It’s a busy road and we can’t do anything about the traffic but we can ask people to take care at that intersection.”
Manager for City and Asset Planning at City of Casey Joanna Noesgaard said the council is continuing to advocate to both the State and Federal Governments to upgrade the “vital arterial” that is Clyde-Five Ways Road as part of the Clyde Road Corridor.
“As part of Council’s advocacy to the Victorian Government, we are also seeking the delivery of traffic lights at this intersection to improve safety and connectivity for commuters,” Ms Noesgaard said.
“The Clyde Road, Berwick-Cranbourne Road and Clyde–Five Ways Road forms the Clyde Road Corridor that is one of the busiest, most dangerous and congested road connections in our city.
Ms Noesgaard attributed the damage to roadside verges on Ballarto Road to recent urbanisation and road construction and said they would be added to the council’s mowing schedule.
“The next cycle of maintenance will be complete by 3 June,” Ms Noosgard said.
“Other parts of Ballarto Road, between the footpath and Clyde-Five Ways Road, are the responsibility of the Department of Transport.”
The Department of Transport encourages the community to report hazards and any concerns about the condition of the road network by calling 13 11 70.
Ms Crugnale encouraged motorists to report their concerns to VicRoads via their website, vicroads.vic.gov.au/traffic-and-road-use/report-a-road-issue
