‘White line fever’ over plans for strip in Point

KIM WATERS
A PLAN to paint a median strip along Point Lonsdale’s main street is a “recipe for disaster”, according to a community organisation.
Point Lonsdale Civic Association’s Angus McDonald said residents had campaigned “for years” for a traffic-calming solution in the busy street but the painted median strip would only confuse users.
VicRoads had recommended the strip to Borough of Queenscliffe as a means to slow down drivers, he said.
“We think a white-painted section in the middle of the road will push drivers closer to parked cars and then they won’t be able to see pedestrians darting out from the footpath.
“It’s a cheap fix and that council is tempted to push it through because it doesn’t involve too much expense.”
“Ideally we need a chicane or a zebra crossing or even a set of traffic lights.
“This particular area is on the main road across from a playground and residents have seen a lot of near-misses.”
A borough spokesperson said council was “reviewing a number of options”.
“The painted median strip was a “fairly standard road treatment”, the spokesperson said.
“This is only one option we’ve presented to the community and we might even decide on a pedestrian refuge in the middle of the road but we can’t have ridiculous things like a traffic light every 20 metres.”
The spokesperson said council requested options from VicRoads after extension of a 40km/h limit further along the road this year.