By Michael Doran
The Mail recently wrote about the Maroondah Highway and Badger Creek Road intersection and on 28 September reported VicRoads as saying “the infrastructure already in place is appropriate for the road conditions.”
Whilst the merit of that decision remains debatable, the logic behind it has gone out the window with the pedestrian safety barriers now destroyed and those crossing the road left in a vulnerable state.
The destruction of the barriers means that the way pedestrians cross the road has changed and that they have no protection whatsoever from cars turning left into Badger Creek Road from Maroondah Highway.
If the same crash were to occur now with a pedestrian stranded in the middle of the road waiting to cross it is likely it would result in serious injury.
After learning of the issue, the Mail approached VicRoads and Acting Regional Director, Metro South East, Roger Chao said they are aware of the issue and are working on a plan to repair it.
“Repairs to the crash barrier at the intersection of Badger Creek Road and Maroondah Highway will be carried out in coming weeks,” he said on 16 November.
“We carry out regular road inspections right across our network and make it a priority to fix any damage to roads or road infrastructure.”
In an accompanying statement, VicRoads said that the crash barrier uses specialised fencing which has to be be ordered in and is due to arrive within a fortnight.
They also advised that the barriers will be fully repaired by early December, which seems to stretch the definition of ‘a priority’. However the statement said they do encourage the community to call them on 131 170 to report hazards, so it might be worth a call?
