Eastfield Rd, Railway Ave and Morinda St safety improvements

Project categoryRoads and traffic
StatusPlanned

Background

Council is aware of recent crash history at the Eastfield Road, Railway Avenue and Morinda Street intersection and of community concerns regarding the safety of pedestrians and motorists using the intersection.

The intersection of Eastfield Road, Railway Avenue and Morinda Street has been identified as a Black Spot due to recent crash history.

Between 1 July 2017 to 31 December 2021, three casualty crashes, including one fatality and two serious injury crashes, were recorded at the intersection. Two of the recorded crashes involved pedestrians.

Safety Improvement Study

In response to recent crash history and community concerns regarding the safety of pedestrians and motorists using the intersection, Council undertook an extensive Safety Improvement Study, working with a specialist traffic engineering consultant. The Study reviewed:

Regular traffic volumes and movements in precinct, including bus routes
Current function and operation of the intersection for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists
The complex grades and geometry of the intersection
Viability of alternative intersection designs.

The study recommended the installation of traffic signals at the intersection to address the recent crash history and current safety and access concerns.

During the course of the study, Council undertook engagement with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP, formerly VicRoads) and a Senior Road Safety Auditor, receiving independent feedback and in-principal support for the recommended traffic signals treatment.

Feedback from DTP and the Auditor was incorporated into the concept plans produced for the recommended traffic signals treatment, including a proposed reduction in the speed limit of Railway Avenue west of the intersection to 50 km/h.

Birds eye view of the intersection of Eastfield Road and Railway Avenue

Benefit

Under the Australian and Victorian Government’s Black Spot Program, $1,356,000 has been allocated for installing traffic signals at the intersection of Eastfield Road, Railway Avenue and Morinda Street. Key safety and operational benefits of the proposed traffic signals and associated changes include:

Improved pedestrian access across all legs of the intersection, including to the bus stops on Railway Avenue immediately west of the intersection
Dedicated and separated phases for vehicle movements which resolve sight distance issues, for example, currently occurring on the Eastfield Road north leg when right and left turn vehicles queue side-by-side
Increased visibility of the intersection for approaching motorists unfamiliar with the area, through the installation of traffic signal mast arms and additional street lighting, as required
Improved safety and consistency on Railway Avenue west of the intersection through reducing the speed limit to 50 km/h.

To achieve the key objectives noted above, the traffic signals proposal features the following deliverables:

Standard signal infrastructure (12 pedestals, 22 lanterns, detector loops, conduits, signal box)
Road infrastructure improvements (kerb ramps, kerb modification and drainage pit modification)
Tree canopy trimming
Standard signal line-marking including turning lanes, guiding lanes, crosswalks and through-lanes
All supporting signage
Pavement modifications at key locations to a high-friction surface treatment
Railway Avenue speed limit reduction to 50 km/h.

Speed limit change on Railway Avenue

Speed limits throughout Victoria are managed in accordance with DTP’s Speed Zoning Technical Guidelines, which recommends a speed zone of 50 km/h for local streets in built up areas. In contrast, a 60 km/h speed limit is appropriate for Eastfield Road as a local road which carries significantly higher traffic volumes.

The proposed speed limit reduction to 50 km/h on Railway Avenue was a recommendation of the Road Safety Audit to support the safe operation of the new traffic signals. This will provide a consistent speed limit along Railway Avenue to support safety and access along this road. Traffic at the Victoria Street intersection will also benefit from the speed limit change, following the 2024/25 project to realign Railway Avenue and Victoria Street to a standard T-intersection.

Aerial view of Eastfield Road, Railway Avenue and Morinda Street with annotations showing proposed changes