Another crash near the notorious Bank Street intersection last week has highlighted the dire need for safety upgrades to be completed.
Member for Morwell Martin Cameron and Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester have renewed calls for the Minister for Transport to urgently upgrade railway signalling and install traffic lights.
“We have been waiting nearly 18 months for traffic lights and railway signalling upgrades, and it is no exaggeration to say that in it’s current state the Bank Street intersection is a death trap,” Mr Cameron said.
“If the State Government can remove 70 level crossings in metropolitan Melbourne in the space of four years, surely it can extend the same courtesy to the people of the Latrobe Valley who have waited far too long for this single job to be finished.
“We are aware there is a hold-up upgrading the railway signalling, but the Minister for Transport must at least install the traffic lights and do so immediately.
“The community has waited too long for this project to be completed, and it should be the highest priority.”
Mr Chester said he was frustrated that the traffic lights haven’t been installed despite the previous Federal Government providing more than $4 million for the project.
“Turning right onto the Princes Highway from the Traralgon Golf Club is a genuinely frightening prospect, and lives are being put at risk every day because of the State Government’s inaction,” he said.
“It’s a complete farce that nearly 18 months have passed since the roadworks were completed but the traffic signals still haven’t been installed.
“I’m calling on the Minister for Transport to finish works at the Bank Street intersection as a matter of the utmost urgency.”
