By Matthew Sims
Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) are nearing the end of works along O’Shea Road as part of Stage 2 of the Monash Freeway upgrade, with the last sets of permanent street lighting set to be turned on soon after months of work.
An MRPV spokesperson said while the streetlights were being commissioned, temporary lighting was in place at intersections along O’Shea Road, with a reduced speed limit of 60km/hr to ensure the safety of motorists, pedestrians and work crews.
“We’re now turning on permanent street lighting along O’Shea Road, ensuring better visibility and safety for all road users,” the spokesperson said.
“A final road safety audit was conducted in mid-October after the permanent streetlights were turned on and prior to the speed limit returning to 80km/hr.”
According to MRPV, all traffic lights have been powered and operational since the new lanes on O’Shea Road were opened to traffic in August 2022.
Multiple independent road safety audits have been undertaken on this stretch of road since it opened in August 2022 with no safety concerns raised.
The final independent road safety audit was completed in mid-October when the lighting was commissioned, with no safety issues identified.
In response to community feedback, MRPV installed additional landscaping to prevent vehicles turning across the centre median.
On multiple occasions the project team has passed on feedback to Victoria Police from residents about speeding drivers.
New and upgraded lanes along O’Shea Road were opened to traffic on time in August 2022.
Berwick MP Brad Battin addressed a question to Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne about the issue in Parliament on Wednesday 4 October, highlighting the two deaths which occurred on the road earlier this year.
“We have had issues with speed, lighting and traffic lights on this road since the upgrade has occurred,” he said.
“Minister, I ask if we can take the politics out of this, please, and get the information that you have received in relation to safety issues on this road that could have prevented two deaths of people in my electorate.
“It is time that the Berwick electorate got the truth on what is happening on O’Shea Road.”
A number of comments from Berwick motorists and locals on Facebook highlighted safety issues, including comments of people running through red lights.
“Too many people ignore the red lights, I travel through there everyday and I always have to wait for the red light runners,” Sharon Burns said.
“Red light cameras would be good to stop it.”
