Gembrook-Launching Place Road is set to receive a plethora of motorcycle safety upgrades delivered by the Department of Transport and Planning (DOTP) and funded by the Motorcycle Transport Levy.
The concerning history of motorcycle accidents on the road indicates just how vital the upgrades are; between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2020, there were 44 recorded crashes.
In the last 10 years, 17 motorcyclists have been killed on roads in the Yarra Ranges according to the Transport Accident Commission’s (TAC) searchable road trauma statistics database.
In an online forum, ‘Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club – Australia’, on Sunday 17 April 2011, members of the forum discussed the death of a nearly 21-year-old rider who was killed on Gembrook-Launching Place Road after losing control, striking a wire railing, suffered a severe neck injury and dying at the scene. Members initially blamed the death on wire rope safety barriers installed along many roads, often referred to as ‘cheesegraters’ by riders, given their capacity to cause injury when riders fall or slide into them but another rider later posted that it was a private farm fence the deceased rider struck. Australian Motorcycle Council spokesman Guy Stanford in a blog post from Maurice and Blackburn Lawyers also blamed the vertical posts of wire rope safety barriers as lethal, due to the concerted force of an upright, which could also be a telephone pole, tree or lamp post, delivers to someone who stuck it, compared to a smooth-surfaced concrete barrier.
For the upgrades, the DOTP will be;
Sealing road shoulders at key locations along the length of the road to help riders and other road users stay in control of their vehicles if they veer off the road and to minimise the amount of loose material that can present a safety risk of being spread on to the road
Sealing 13 intersections along the length of the road to help riders and other road users stay in control of their vehicles and to reduce loose materials being spread across the road
Installing and upgrading safety barriers appropriate for motorcyclists (including impact-absorbing barrier ends) at key locations along the road patching the road surface at key locations along the length of the road
Improving signage and line markings at various locations along the length of the road.
Investigations are also underway at a number of driveways along the length of the road that may pose a safety risk to motorcyclists, with the DOTP to be in direct contact with property owners when they have more details.
Work on all treatments except for driveways is expected to commence by the middle of this mont and weather permitting, the works are expected to be complete by the end of March 2024.
Crews will be on site at various locations along Gembrook-Launching Place Road from mid-January until late March. Crews will work from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. There will be no night works.
There will be minimal impact to road users. At times, the road around some work zones may be reduced to single lane and 40km/h to ensure safety for construction crews. This would cause delays of up to five minutes.
There are no plans for road closures as part of these works. If unexpected closures are required, the DOTP will advise the community before these take place. There will be no impact to public transport or school buses. Minor delays may occur when travelling through the work zones.
Access to properties in work zones will be maintained at all times.
Traffic management crews will be on site to guide residents and road users through each work zone safely.
Outside of work hours the road will be fully open at reduced speed limits until works are complete and the line marking restored.
Please plan ahead, follow traffic management directions and allow for up to five minutes of additional travel time.
