By Eleanor Wilson
A deadly stretch of highway in Berwick could become more safe for pedestrians, if the Liberals form government in the state election.
A Matt Guy Liberals Government has announced it would commit $2 million towards upgrading pedestrian safety with traffic lights across the Princes Highway near the entrance to Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick.
The busy intersection has been the site of several accidents and near misses in the past and in 2017 claimed the life of former Casey Mayor and Councillor Mick Morland.
Mr Morland was crossing the busy highway on an evening walk when he was struck and killed by a passing car.
His wife Kay Morland said she felt “absolute joy” when she heard of the traffic light commitment.
“It’s been five and a half years. The kids will be very happy and the family will appreciate that no one else is going to have to live with what we did,” she said.
Member for Gembrook and Liberal candidate for Berwick, Brad Battin, said roads in the outer south-eastern suburbs had been neglected by the State Government.
“There have been too many accidents and close calls coming into Wilson Botanic Park but Labor still hasn’t responded to ongoing safety issues in the Berwick community.
“Local road users and pedestrians will no longer have to take unnecessary risks thanks to this vital upgrade under a Matt Guy Liberals and Nationals Government.”
Local resident Shaun Grewal, who has spent the last few months advocating for a set of traffic lights at the site, said the pledge will “create a safe life for us”.
“I moved here about a year ago and I saw people risking their lives to cross this road, especially during Covid with more people using the park,” Mr Grewal said.
“You’ll see a massive increase in people walking to the park with kids, elderly people, dog walkers.
“It’s gonna open up the space for many other local events. I spoke to elderly people here who said they want to go to the park with their grandchildren but they don’t because [the crossing] is not safe. So this is important.”
Through his advocacy, Mr Grewal garnered 300 signatures from the local community in support of the construction of a set of traffic lights.
The intersection, near Coniston Avenue, contains a bus stop on both sides of the Princes Highway, a main arterial which sees thousands of motorists travelling at speeds of 80km/h every day.
The nearest pedestrian crossings from Wilson Botanic Park are roughly 700 metres in either direction.
“People would ask why do we need another traffic light here when you have one up there and you have one up there?,” Mrs Morland said.
“I go, well I lost my husband because there was no traffic light here. I would do anything to save anyone else’s family going through what we went through. It’s a no brainer.”
