Cindy McLeish, Liberal Party MLA for Eildon, recently backed a Yarra Ranges Council call for the state government to improve pedestrian safety at the Don Rd and Warburton Highway intersection in Launching Place.
Ms McLeish called on Melissa Horne, Minister for Roads and Road Safety, directly to ensure that the Yarra Ranges Council’s requests were met to upgrade the intersection with a new footpath and guardrail.
“The lack of pedestrian safety here has been causing problems for such a long time. This needs to change,” Ms McLeish said.
The current guardrail, obscured by shrubs, falls into the gutter, leaving little space for pedestrians—often school students—to stand.
“Pedestrians are forced to walk between the roadside and the guardrail to cross Don Rd. There is also no designated footpath, only a grass track, for those getting to and from the bus stop.”
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Jim Child, said: “Pedestrians and drivers alike who live and work in the Upper Yarra know that the intersection of Don Rd and Warburton Highway is difficult to navigate and obstructs safe pedestrian movement.
“The existing state-owned guardrail that’s been in place for a while now has caused some significant safety concerns for us and our community,
“in particular for school children and their families when trying to get to and from the bus stop,” Mayor Child said.
