Go-ahead for improvements at two intersection black spots

TWO dangerous Ballarat road intersections are to be improved using money from the Federal Government’s Black Spots Program.

The City of Ballarat is seeking tenders for work at the intersection of Greenhalghs and Finchs roads in Bunkers Hill, and for the intersection of the Avenue of Honour and Hendersons Road in Burrumbeet.

A dollar figure for the two projects has not been finalised because the tender process is not complete.

The Bunkers Hill intersection has been identified as high-risk and will get a roundabout with splitter islands, raised safety platforms, new lighting, line marking and minor drainage.

Work on that project is expected to be finished by February next year, subject to weather delays or unforeseen issues.

Work at the Burrumbeet site will include widening the pavement, installing splitter islands and rumble strips, and raised safety platforms along with better signage and lighting.

It is scheduled for a January 2026 completion, with the same provisos as the Bunkers Hill work.

A roadside memorial at the Greenhalghs-Finchs roads site will be protected during construction, which will complement previous safety improvements carried out there over the past two years.

More than 800 people signed a petition in 2023 calling for safety improvements after a person was killed in a crash there in 2022.

The City installed rumble strips and upgraded signs at the intersection as an interim measure in July 2023, and the speed limit on Greenhalghs Road was reduced to 80km/h late last year.

Earlier this year, the City completed reconstruction works on a section of Finchs Road, between Bells Road and Greenhalghs Road as part of the safety push. At the Burrumbeet intersection, two trees will be replaced and aligned with remaining Avenue of Honour trees and their name plaques affixed to the new trees.

The City has obtained a Heritage Victoria permit for that component.

It has consulted residents and landowners at both sites, and traffic management will be in place throughout construction.

Mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves welcomed the ongoing investment in local roads.

“These projects are vital for saving lives,” she said.

“Every Black Spots upgrade means fewer crashes, fewer injuries and more peace of mind for everyone using our roads.”

Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King said the government had substantially increased funding for the Black Spots Program around the country.

“Locals know how dangerous these two intersections are,” Ms King said.

“City of Ballarat have done the planning work to ensure that these upgrades improve safety for the area, and I’m pleased to see that these projects are progressing.”

Two other Black Spots Program projects have been completed recently – a roundabout at the Talbot Street-Rubicon Street intersection ($763,000) in February and a roundabout at the Dana Street-Raglan Street intersection ($624,880) in April.