Roads projects get funding

FOUR key road projects have received funding from the State and Federal governments with the money going towards pedestrian safety upgrades across the city.

Costing $940,000 they include speed reductions and improved traffic islands on Wiltshire Lane in Delacombe, works around the school zone on the Midland Highway at Buninyong, works on the pedestrian crossing at Albert Street in Sebastopol and new crossings and footpaths near Wendouree Station.

“These upgrades will not only make getting around easier but will save lives,” said Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said the works on Wiltshire Lane included a new pedestrian refuge, improvements to the existing Whitelaw Avenue traffic island and drop speed limit to 60kph in-between.

“We’ve heard the community’s concerns about Wiltshire Lane and we’re taking action to make it safer and easier to cross this busy road,” she said.

Resident and member of the Wiltshire Lane Community Action Group Rebekah Foster welcomed the planned improvements and said the area has a danger for families and community members to cross the road.

“Our worst fear was that something terrible would happen before we got action so the fact that today work has started before there’s been any injuries it’s a really huge step,” she said.