“THE STAR”, Tuesday, September 14, 2010 - PAGE 3
Protests prompt action By Brad Lester PUBLIC outrage over a dangerous intersection at Ruby will pay off.
VicRoads will extend the existing bypass lane on the South Gippsland Highway, at the intersection with Ruby-Arawata Road, to reduce the risk of a collision. Residents of Ruby and Arawata have been calling for a dedicated right hand turning lane on the highway to make the junction safer, while waiting to turn into Ruby. While the works are not what the community asked for, VicRoads has guaranteed the intersection will be safer. VicRoads acting regional director Harvey Dinelli said the intersection would be addressed but not until after tender is awarded later this year. “This will improve safety by allowing more time and space for motorists to pass vehicles that have stopped or slowed down to turn right into RubyArawata Road,” he said. The work has been confirmed as part of the $7.13 million run-off road safety project for the highway between Bena and Meeniyan, announced by VicRoads recently. Highway campaigner and Ruby resident Margery Robson welcomed the action but was not satisfied. “If it just means they’re going to increase the traffic passing lane on the left, that will be useless because we need a dedicated right hand turning lane there as well,” she said. Residents continue to experience potentially life-threatening near misses at the dangerous section. Nigel Hutchinson-Brooks said motorists on the highway overtake
Meals roster (Leongatha) Woorayl Lodge Auxiliary, Joy Hayward and St Peter’s Ladies Guild will be responsible for the delivery of meals on wheels, the week beginning September 20, 2010.
Community campaigners: residents at the intersection of Ruby-Arawata Road and the South Gippsland Highway. Front: Lisa Spaull and Madison McAliece. Back: Margery Robson, Liz Leigh, Julie and Les Boyd, Nigel and Rohan Hutchinson-Brooks, Lyn and Ken Boromeo, and Margaret Robson. without considering the possibility of traffic turning into – or out of – RubyArawata Road. “There should be double lines back to the bend because people see two kilometres of straight and just go,” he said. “They do not realise people can come out of here.” Ken Boromeo fears for his safety when he turns off the highway. “The car behind you can see what you are doing but the car behind that can’t and he just pulls out to pass you,” he said.
“When you slow down to turn, the traffic has to slow down because there is not a proper dedicated turning lane, but the traffic not always does.” Leongatha resident Liz Leigh narrowly missed colliding with a car while turning into Ruby-Arawata Road, after the driver of that vehicle overtook the car behind her, unaware of her intentions. “I would have hoped that I would have done Peter Brock proud the way I got around the corner,” she said. Long trucks have difficulty nego-
tiating the intersection, particularly when entering the highway. The only alternative road into Ruby, Ruby Road, was closed by South Gippsland Shire Council due to safety concerns with the highway intersection. Part of the road in Ruby has been pulled up and will be sown with grass seed. Along the Ruby-Arawata Road itself, council has widened the road slightly before the bridge. Ms Robson wants council to replace the 100km/h speed limit signs near the
highway with “End 60km/h” signs, in case people accelerate, unaware of the highway intersection nearby. Council’s director of infrastructure, Anthony Seabrook, said the final work design for upgrades to Ruby-Arawata Road would be completed soon. Council is also working with VicRoads to finalise closure of Ruby Road. He said council meets with VicRoads management at Traralgon every six months and the South Gippsland, Strzelecki and Bass highways were always discussed.