MOST Sheppartonians know of the laser focus required to turn right from Graham Street onto Numurkah Road during a busy period.
Although no-one really likes stopping at traffic lights, a set of them at that intersection would take away the need to run the gauntlet when attempting to head north from the hospital.
Given that the hospital is one of the city’s biggest employers and most visited locations, upgrading that intersection is growing in importance, and the Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, has sought funding from the State Government to install traffic lights.
In a question in Parliament recently to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Ben Carroll, Ms Lovell highlighted the need to upgrade the T intersection from its current give way sign.
“A give way sign for Graham Street motorists is no longer suitable and traffic lights are needed to improve safety at the intersection,” Ms Lovell said.
“The Government announced 12 months ago that an upgrade was planned at the Graham Street-Numurkah Road intersection, yet we are still waiting for work to commence.”
Ms Lovell first raised the need for traffic lights at the intersection in March last year to the then Roads Minister, Jaala Pulford.
While the Minister’s response was favourable that an upgrade was planned at the intersection, no work had commenced in the preceding 12 months, and now Ms Lovell has sought a commitment from the Minster that funding to install traffic lights will be included in the upcoming 2021-22 State Budget.
The Minister’s office was contacted for comment, however The Adviser did not receive a response prior to going to print.
