Blind corners

By Tania Martin
A FERNTREE Gully woman has joined calls for the State Government to conduct an audit of hills roads.
Sue McMillan said if something wasn’t done to fix roads, especially near Belgrave, someone would be seriously injured.
This comes as Eastern Region MP Edward O’Donohue called for the Government to inject more cash into road infrastructure in the Dandenongs.
“One of the key spots needing to be fixed is along Monbulk Road only a short distance out of Belgrave where widening is desperately needed for greater safety,” he said.
“Road widening and better intersection treatments will make roads throughout the Dandenongs easier for both vehicles and trucks alike with greater room to negotiate corners and bends.”
Ms McMillan said the Government really needs to widen that section of Monbulk Road.
“I have seen so many near misses at this particular spot,” she said.
“It really needs to be widened.”
Mr O’Donohue last week told Parliament that the Government needed to invest in an audit of hills roads. He said the Government also needed to commit to a program that would bring these roads up to a satisfactory standard.
Mr O’Donohue said inadequate funding of roads in the hills has left people at serious risk.
“Hills residents use these roads regularly and their inadequate size and structure is failing to provide a safe journey for travel to work, school and tourist destinations,” he said.
“I have spoken with numerous community members who are extremely concerned that the neglect of these roads has been allowed to continue.”
Mr O’Donohue said that according to VicRoads crash statistics, Belgrave roads have recorded 56 serious accidents between 2002 and 2006 with 30 of these directly involving other vehicles.
He said many drivers had raised concerns about the road, prompting calls for it to be widened.
“People are concerned for their safety,” Mr O’Donohue told Parliament.
“One of my constituents said they were told VicRoads had run out of money. This may be the case but it’s simply not good enough.”
Mr O’Donohue said that the Dandenongs was a great destination for tourists and young people.
“These roads are unsafe and more needs to be done to ensure everyone is safer on our roads,” he said.
“The State Government should start by ensuring that these roads are safe for the entire community.”
The Mail contacted VicRoads but was unable to get a response before going to print.