The roundabout is one of the key projects that make up the Federal and Victorian Governments’ joint $20 million injection to increase safety on a 130km stretch of the Murray Valley Highway from Echuca to Yarrawonga.
It will have taken more than three years to build the roundabout since the funding details were confirmed by VicRoads in July, 2017.
The local community has often expressed concerns about the busy intersection, which attracts an enormous amount of pedestrian and vehicle traffic, particularly around school starting and finishing times. Many pedestrians and drivers, including bus drivers avoid using the intersection which often experiences considerable delays.
North Eastern Regional Director of Regional Roads Victoria Steve Bowmaker said designs for a roundabout are progressing towards a late 2019 construction date with an anticipated operational date by mid-2020.
“Our design will future-proof the intersection from increasing traffic volumes and a growing freight task. This can take time to plan, but we want to get it right,” Mr Bowmaker said.
“The roundabout will improve safety and relieve pressure on one of Yarrawonga’s busiest intersections – by removing the conflict between local and highway traffic, providing safer turning opportunities and better catering for heavy vehicles.”
Mr Bowmaker said Regional Roads Victoria is working towards a design which delivers good vehicle access on all approaches, and prioritises minimal service relocation and land acquisition.
The new roundabout design will slow vehicles on approach to enhance pedestrian safety.Sacred Heart Primary Principal Arn Gorman told the Chronicle early last year she would like to see the roundabout works fast tracked so it could be finished sooner after an announcement by VicRoads that planning had started.
“Now that the Yarrawonga P-12 school has relocated to the one campus the traffic around Woods Road and Murray Valley Highway has amplified,” Ms Gorman said.
“Buses are arriving earlier, parents are trying to get to all school locations coupled with an increase in students riding bikes, scooters or walking to schools.
“As a community we need to make sure all students within the Yarrawonga community are able to commute to school safely. Currently there is no place for our students, this includes P-12, and Sacred Heart College to cross the Murray Valley Highway safely.
“As a community we have a newly constructed health care ‘hub’ that not only offers healthcare, but a coffee shop where community especially our elderly can gather, an opportunity to be social.
“However the thought of them crossing Murray Valley Highway is a disaster waiting to happen.
“There is nothing to keep them safe or guide traffic to stop, slow down and provide the crossing opportunity,” she said
In the five-year period ending December 2016, the section of the Murray Valley Highway between Echuca and Yarrawonga experienced 100 crashes, with seven fatalities and 93 injuries.
