Plans to upgrade the intersection were revealed at the location last Wednesday, July 31, as part of a whistle-stop tour of the shire’s major projects with Moira Shire Council Chief Administrator Dr Graeme Emonson PSM and Moira Shire Council Administrator Suzanna Sheed AM.
The new roundabout and associated raised pedestrian crossings and curb works will be partly funded by the council ($400,000) and a state government grant from the Safe Local Roads and Street Program ($1.2 million). Council has budgeted $1.2 million for 2024/25 budget and will plan to allocate a further $400,000 in the 2025/26 budget for the project.
The TAC, in partnership with the Department of Transport and Planning, have developed the Safe Local Roads and Streets program to support the development and delivery of road safety infrastructure projects on high-risk local roads, intersections and precincts, such as schools.
Countless traffic accidents have occurred at the troubled intersection over recent years, including a double fatality in July 2015.
Dr Emonson said the five-way intersection is no longer fit for purpose.
“This project is overdue and will provide a substantial lift in the road safety of this area,” he said.
“It has served its purpose originally as a local road and intersection, but it now carries substantial volumes of traffic in servicing a number of connector roads.
“The local road network has changed as Yarrawonga has grown and there are substantial plans for new housing and urban development, particularly on the east side of Yarrawonga.
“This will mean that over time there will be a need to further redesign the road network to cater for the substantial increase in traffic volumes.
“When we are looking at developments with significant lot numbers, the design of the road network for pedestrian safety and other infrastructure is always front of mind, and we will likely see more upgrades over future years as further subdivisions come on,” Dr Emonson said.
Moira Shire Council Project Manager Paul Diffey said planning work has already begun on the intersection, including the planned purchase of a portion of land on both the south-western and north-eastern sides of the intersection to allow for the roundabout’s overall development. The contract to relocate two power poles near the intersection and relocate underground services will soon be awarded to Powercor.
“We anticipate these works will be carried out in September or October this year and the civil construction side is nearly complete,” Mr Diffey said.
Mr Diffey said the construction of the roundabout is expected to begin in January 2025 and be completed by April 2025.
Woods Road upgrade
As part of the project, Woods Rd will also be redeveloped after the roundabout works are completed next year.
New curb and channel works will be constructed on the west side of the road, along with further pedestrian access and new paths.
Mr Diffey said Woods Rd has in the past been a link to rural lifestyle properties and a back entry to Victoria Park and the Yarrawonga Cemetery, but due to the overall growth and associated development of the town, it is now identified as an important urban road that carries high volumes of traffic.
“Based on the Glanmire Park Travel Impact Assessment, it identified that the road could carry up to 5,000 to 6,000 vehicles a day, and as a result council is now finalising plans for the reconstruction of Woods Rd,” Mr Diffey said.
Mr Diffey said the road width will include allowance for parking along Woods Rd but exact details will be further determined in the design process.
The upgrades to Woods Road are well into the planning phase, and the works are expected to be finished in the second half of 2025.
