By MICHELLE HERBISON
VICROADS will improve cyclist and motorist safety on two of the region’s roads in upgrades to be complete in June and July, according to its regional director.
William Tieppo said a $1.1 million installation of 1.5m-wide sealed shoulders at Drysdale’s Murradoc Rd between Clarendon and Portarlington-Queenscliff Rds would “reduce the frequency and severity of casualty crashes”.
VicRoads in March commenced $835,000 works at Shell Rd between Ocean Grove and Point Lonsdale.
Mr Tieppo said wire-rope safety barriers, guide-posts, curve alignment markers, skid-resistant road sealing and a permanent reduction of the speed limit to 80km/h would address “run-off-road crashes”.
Bikesafe’s Barton Van Laar said the upgrades were good news amid a 30 per cent increase in cyclist admissions to Geelong Hospital last year.
All authorities identified Murradoc Rd as a hazard, with an increasing accident rate and a cyclist fatality having occurred, he said.
“I still believe strongly that sometimes we get things fixed up quicker after there’s a fatality and that’s too big a price to pay.”
Mr Van Laar said Bikesafe was working with Geelong’s council and VicRoads to create a “principle bicycle network” recommending routes to cyclists.
Future priority roads included Portarlington-Queenscliff Rd, Torquay’s Horseshoe Bend Rd, Highton’s Barrabool Rd and Lara’s Forest Rd, Mr Van Laar said.
