St Mary’s Catholic Primary School students and their parents can now cross the road without taking their lives into their hands.
By Tania Martin
CROSSING the road for many Mount Evelyn students will no longer be a deathly tightrope on the notorious Clegg Road.
After more than five years of campaigning, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School has welcomed the opening of a new crossing.
It was made possible after the Yarra Ranges Council ‘footed’ the $22,000 bill.
Parent Vivianne Lacy-Drieberg said it was great to finally have a safe passage across the road for the children.
She said it had been more than five years since the school started campaigning for the crossing.
Ms Lacy-Drieberg said before the crossing was installed several weeks ago, parents had to stand for ages waiting for a break in the traffic.
“We had to try running between the cars, it was just really dangerous,” she said. Ms Lacy- Drieberg said there were many close calls for students and parents almost getting hit.
“It’s a relief to have it now,” she said.
“It’s so much safer.”
But Ms Lacy-Drieberg said it wouldn’t only be good for St Mary’s students, but other nearby residents.
“Some of the families from the other schools are now using it to cross the road,” she said.
The school was thrilled when the council announced its plan to install the crossing several months ago.
“We were relieved it was finally going to happen – it was fantastic and it was finally going to be safe,” Ms Lacy-Drieberg said.
But despite the new crossing, parents are still hoping flashing lights will soon be installed to make it even safer.
“The lights will encourage the cars to slow down because speeding is still an issue,” Ms Lacy-Drieberg said.
For mother of six Susan van der Linden, it has been an even longer fight than the school one.
She has been calling for action for more than seven years.
The van der Lindens live down the road from the school and have spent many hours at the junction trying to cross the road.
Mrs van der Linden said the crossing was a much safer and quicker way to get her kids off to school. She said it used to take more than 20 minutes some days for a safe break in the traffic to cross the road.
Her daughter can now even ride her bike to school. “She could never have done before, because it was just too unsafe,” Mrs van der Linden said.
Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan said the crossing was great news for parents and students.
He said 80 per cent of traffic which travels from Swansea Road into the Warburton area comes through Clegg Road.
“It’s a dangerous road and parents need a safe area,” Cr Heenan said.
He said all that was now needed was the installation of electronic speed zones at the crossing.
