Last speed review during COVID Study puts spotlight on town treatment strategy

SITE investigations, crash history, road use, pedestrian activity and community sentiment are used by the Department of Transport to assess speed zones.

The department last reviewed Brooke Street in mid-2021 when Victoria was coming in and out of COVID lockdowns.

A department spokesperson said: “In the five years to June 2022, there has been one recorded crash in Brooke Street Inglewood which occurred in 2018.

“In March 2021, the Department of Transport and Planning received a speed request review along this section of road.

“The review found Brooke

Street did not meet the criteria for speed reduction, therefore the current 50kmh speed is appropriate.”

The department said gateways signs had been installed at the southbound and northbound approaches to Inglewood to highlight to motorists that they need to slow down.

“The signs and line markings provide a visual reminder to drivers that they are entering a town and need to slow down to adhere to the posted speed limit.”

The gateway signs advise of a 60kmh limit.

Inglewood businessman Peter Moore has proposed flashing speed checks signs for the town. The signs and installation are priced at about $50,000.

Mr Moore has provided information on the signs to new Ripon MP Martha Haylett who said: “Road safety is an important issue and we all have a role in sharing our roads safely. I have been talking to many locals about how we can make our roads safer, particularly in busy, high-pedestrian areas in our local towns.”

“Our road network is regularly reviewed and I want to make sure we continue to work closely with councils and consider options for improving safety in our rural towns.”

MANAGEMENT of speed at intersections and in towns along the Calder Highway from Ravenswood to the NSW border may strengthen Inglewood’s push for a 40kmh town limit.

That’s according to Loddon Shire councillor Wendy Murphy who represents council on the Calder Highway Improvement Committee.

Cr Murphy said when local speed limits were last raised in 2021, Regional Roads Victoria did not “show a lot of support”.

However, Cr Murphy said the issue would again be raised at a committee meeting next month and a safe system solutions study on speed zones due to start soon could be important to the local push.

Cr Murphy said the narrow street, parking, dog legs and a shopping strip along Brooke Street created conditions “not necessarily conducive to driving at 50kmh”.

There were other highway towns in Victoria where the town speed limit had been reduced to 40kmh, she said.

EXERCISE physiologist Shanaye Alexander has headed to Inglewood to start her allied health career.