Road upgrades to help locals travel safely

A SERIES of road safety works have now been completed to make it safer to walk, ride and drive in north Torquay.

The works are in the vicinity of Horseshoe Bend Road, between South Beach Road and Quay Boulevard.

They include new raised pedestrian crossings on Merrijig Drive, Quay Boulevard and Pacific Drive, road safety platforms on South Beach Road and at the accident blackspot of Horseshoe Bend Road roundabout, improved bike line markings, pathway upgrades and solar lighting.

Surf Coast Shire mayor Liz Pattison said the upgrades will have many positive effects on the local community.

“So many kids walk and ride to school in this area, so the crossings will make their journey safer and smoother,” she said.

“North Torquay has seen a lot of growth in recent years so these upgrades will help improve traffic flow, make our roads safer for everyone and encourage more journeys via active transport, which is a win for health, hip pockets and our precious environment.

“We’ll also be resurfacing a stretch of Horseshoe Bend Road in September to improve the experience for drivers and cyclists.”

The works along Horseshoe Bend Road are among other Council projects aimed at improving road safety and traffic flow.

Other projects underway include Rosser Boulevard, the Surf Coast Highway and Coombes Road intersection and installation of traffic lights and planning for a future safe cycling connection between central and north Torquay.

Council has allocated $140,000 of funding in the 2023/24 budget to develop and implement further safety upgrades in this area.

For more, visit, surfcoast.vic.gov.au/NorthTorquayTraffic.