Amy Hume
YEARS of concern over the notorious Sydney and Union Street intersection finally came to an end when the new traffic signals were switched on in Kilmore last Tuesday.
Residents have long shared apprehension about the dangers for drivers and pedestrians at the infamous corner.
Between January 2006 and December 2010 there were three crashes recorded at the intersection, two of which resulted in serious injury.
One of the crashes resulted from a vehicle failing to give way to oncoming traffic and another involved a vehicle that failed to give way while completing a u-turn.
There are an estimated 4260 vehicles travelling northbound through the intersection per day and 4193 travelling southbound.
Minster for Roads Terry Mulder said the new traffic lights signal safer travel for Kilmore’s pedestrians and motorists.
“This work addresses ongoing community concerns by installing lights at this busy intersection to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians,” he said.
“The new traffic signals will give motorists travelling through the intersection clearer directions and make it safer when turning in and out of Union Street.
“The intersection is in Kilmore’s main shopping precinct so the signals will also mean greater safety for people visiting local shops.”
Kilmore Chamber of Commerce president Robert Bradley said he had already seen an improvement in traffic through Kilmore.
“It’s good to finally have the lights; they have provided a better traffic flow through the town and have made it easier to cross the street,” he said.
“When people start to realise the lights are there they will really appreciate the benefits that they’re providing at the northern end of the town.”
While the new traffic signals have been well-received by the general community, it has been a long battle to get them installed.
The North Central Review joined the fight for lights on Friday, June 20, 2008, when it staged a fatality at the intersection to demonstrate the need for traffic signals.
Following this stunt, Newspaper House organised a petition to have traffic lights installed at the intersection, which collected 2171 signatures.
The petition was forwarded to then Minister for Roads and Ports Tim Pallas along with correspondence from Mitchell Shire Council expressing concern for safety at the intersection.
The decision to proceed with the lights was voted unanimously by council but quashed when VicRoads said the junction was “not a high priority compared to other areas” at the time.
VicRoads attempted to rectify the traffic issues by introducing a turning lane from Sydney Street into Union Street but the need for lights remained.
Funding for the lights was included in the Linking Kilmore project, which council rejected due to strong public opposition to the Link Road proposal.
Funding was reinstated for the traffic signals in August 2010 and works began in July this year.
The $765,000 project was funded by VicRoads with $175,000 contribution from Mitchell Shire.
As well as new traffic lights the VicRoads project includes minor widening at the corners of the intersection, new line markings and improved street lighting.
VicRoads northern Victoria’s regional director Mal Kersting said works went according to plan despite some minor setbacks.
“Projects like this often involve dealing with other key infrastructure services, which in some cases have been there for more than 50 years,” Mr Kersting said.
“During construction of the new kerbing works, VicRoads uncovered an underground stormwater chamber.
“Minor redesign works were completed to avoid having to relocate telecommunication services over this chamber.”