Borough’s full circle decision on roundabout

A TEMPORARY roundabout installed at the intersection of Kirk and Winterley Road’s in Point Lonsdale will be scrapped after residents said it was causing additional concerns to traffic management.

Installed under a 12-month trial by the Borough of Queenscliffe to slow the one in four vehicles found to be speeding along the road, community feedback on the temporary structure highlighted issues around road width, parked cars and driveway access.

Although the measure was introduced in response to locals who were worried about the speed that drivers were doing along the road, Councillor Michael Grout said it was not having the intended effect they were after.

“I think that fellow councillors here would acknowledge that many road users have not been happy with the temporary roundabout,” he said at council’s November meeting.
“However many locals residents obviously do see the traffic speed and safety of Kirk Road to be a problem that needs to be resolved.”

Of an offer from three options for a more permanent solution, council resolved at the meeting to revert to a ‘T’ intersection.

The other two options included a permanent roundabout to encourage vehicles approaching the intersection from all three directions to lower their speed and take caution when proceeding, or installation of a raised safety platform at the intersection.

A survey that yielded 236 responses found that 66 per cent of people wanted a return to the original formation of the intersection, while 28 per cent were in favour of the raised structure and six per cent opting for a permanent roundabout.

“I think there is a need to look at more effective traffic management measures and I understand that this issue may well be addressed in the Active Transport Strategy for Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff,” Cr Grout said.