Crossing advances cycling corridor concept

THE new pedestrian-operated traffic lights at the corner of McCrae and Mundy streets are now operational, bringing the city’s new strategic cycling corridor one step closer to fruition.

Their placement adds to last year’s installation of equivalent lights at the Hargreaves and Chapel streets intersection and will serve to connect Mundy Street to two significant bike trails – the Bendigo Creek Trail and Back Creek Trail.

The two projects have been funded by a $3.87m joint investment from the state and federal governments’ Road Safety Program.

State Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards said with the completion of projects like these, her government is aiming to ensure that vulnerable pedestrians can cross the highway and reach their destinations safely.

“We’re proud to have even more options for the whole community to access and explore Bendigo,” she said.

Federal Bendigo MP Lisa Chesters said as a local mum, she understands the importance of pedestrian safety for families and the community.

“These new traffic lights will ensure greater safety when crossing roads in the busiest parts of Bendigo,” she said.

“We’re improving safety on the streets around central Bendigo as we work towards a future where no one is seriously injured or killed on our roads.”

The city is progressing towards completing a fully connected protected walking and cycling network that enables walkers and bike riders to get where they need to go in their every-day lives, such as school, work, shops, community facilities or simply to visit friends and family.

It is aiming for 90 per cent of houses within urban Bendigo to be within 500 metres of the network upon completion.