Yarraville residents are demanding speed and red light cameras be installed at a pedestrian crossing where they claim speeding truck drivers are putting lives at risk.
The pedestrian crossing is near the intersection of Ballarat Street and Francis Street, a notorious thoroughfare for trucks travelling between the West Gate Bridge and the Port of Melbourne.
Recently there was a significant incident at the intersection causing major damage to the area and also putting lives at risk a situation Vicroads appear happy to ignore.
Earlier this year, a submission from the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group, to have the speed limit reduced and safety measures added at the crossing, was rejected by Transport Victoria, which deemed it was operating safely.
But according to resident Kerry Dickinson, a recent near miss she had with a truck while out walking her dog, has proven that’s not the case.
“It was a red light and the truck actually sped up and kept going,” said Ms Dickson of the incident which occurred on October 3. We have all seen this happen and without any law enforcement.
It is also clear the local member has her head in the sand on the major issue. Recently Ms Katie Hall MP told the press in a statement she was taking trucks off the roads around the area and when fact checked she decided to block the editor of this website.
“I’ve got a 13-year-old labrador who doesn’t walk very fast and we couldn’t get out of the way quick (enough).”
Ms Dickinson said it was only the fact that she and her dog were on the other side of the road to the truck when they began to cross, that saved their lives.
“If anyone was crossing from the other direction at that time, they would’ve been hit.”
Unfortunately, being hit is exactly what happened to another resident, Brad Jessup, almost exactly 12 months ago.
In October last year, Mr Jessup hit his head and bounced off the bull bar of a truck that was accelerating through the crossing despite it being a red light.
He suffered a broken leg and broken ribs in the accident, which led to MTAG’s submission to Transport Victoria
Now, after this latest incident, he’s joining forces with MTAG and Kerry Dickinson to again demand action.
“I would like a red light camera and a speed camera because the speed limit is 50km but most of the trucks exceed that,” said Ms Dickinson of what needs to be done.
She said while the soon to be completed West Gate Tunnel will take trucks off Francis Street, that shouldn’t come at the expense of pedestrian safety now. I think you will be surprised how there will be little change.
“What is it gonna take for them to put a camera there or do something?”
This masthead has written previously about the serious mismanagement of transport and freight policy in Victoria causing suburbs to put up with massive volumes of heavy vehicles whilst rail projects and new rail freight yards are stopped or put on hold for years. Vicroads has continued to turn a blind eye to trucks who act unlawfully.
Victoria’s freight task is expected to more than double in the next 15 years.
Transport Victoria were contacted for comment.
