Plans to upgrade the City Road and Power Street intersection in Southbank to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers have been endorsed by the Victorian Transport Association (VTA).
The Victorian Government announced upgrades for the notorious corner where five people were hit by a truck after it collided with a traffic light back in May.
B-doubles are routinely seen frequenting the area.
An extensive investigation and design process for the complex site has been finalised and a $3.8 million upgrade will be carried out that will see the footpath widened, a pedestrian crossing moved away from the busy corner and the shifting of all lanes on City Road at the intersection.
These measures will create more space between pedestrians and road users, benefitting large volumes of freight traffic that are unable to use the CityLink tunnels.
Designs for the intersection show how a traffic island will be removed, and the crossing at Power Street shifted away from the corner, where multiple crashes have occurred this year, making it safer for pedestrians waiting to cross.
Under the plans, all lanes on City Road will be shifted north, and the stop line for westbound traffic pushed back, creating more room for vehicles to turn and to allow for the widening of the footpath. An automated pedestrian crossing and sensors to trigger changes to traffic lights will remain in place to provide additional time for pedestrians to cross.
Engineers and road safety specialists have been working on this site since May, taking into consideration traffic modelling, available road and pedestrian space, heritage-listed property, safety audits and underground utilities to develop these permanent safety measures.
Some short-term improvements have already been made at the site, including installing concrete blocks, plastic bollards and planter boxes, signs and markings warning of turning trucks, the automated pedestrian crossing, and sensors to minimise waiting periods for pedestrians.
“We’ve been working closely with Department of Transport throughout the design phase and this is a great possible outcome for pedestrians and road users,” said VTA CEO Peter Anderson.
“This road and intersection are a key link for heavy vehicles, particularly those prohibited from using the CityLink tunnels, and these improvements will make it so much easier for truck drivers to navigate the route.”