SAFETY upgrades to a notoriously dangerous intersection in Traralgon have been welcomed by those policing the Valley’s roads.
Latrobe Highway Patrol officer in charge Sergeant Clint Wilson said the intersection at Princes Highway and Deakin Street had been identified as a dangerous intersection for a number of years.
“Highway Patrol have attended a couple of collisions and near-misses that have occurred there; the works being done there will help reduce the risk (of an accident in the future),” Sgt Wilson said.
“The roads have been getting busier and the risk has been increasing; while the works may cause inconvenience to some drivers it will improve safety for everyone.”
State Member for Morwell Russell Northe announced works on the $408,000 road safety upgrade of the intersection would be completed early this month.
The safety upgrades were the result of a number of crashes at the busy intersection, attributed to motorists having difficulty in selecting safe gaps in the traffic while turning.
“Motorists exiting Deakin Street will now only be able to make a left turn onto the highway, instead of being able to turn right as they could previously,” Mr Northe said.
“It will also be safer for drivers wanting to turn right into Deakin Street from the highway, with the installation of a new turning lane that will allow more time to safely pull over away from through traffic.”
Mr Northe said the nearby right turning lane along the highway into Breed Street was also extended as part of this project.
“This will now allow the intersections to better complement each other so there is less disruption to highway traffic,” Mr Northe said.
