VicTrack is installing boom gates and repairing the single-level railway crossing.

Invermay Park resident Val Cole has dubbed the crossing a “death trap”, with redevelopment plans not featuring a pedestrian crossing.

Ms Cole said despite there only being two passenger trains a day on the Maryborough line, the threat of an accident involving a pedestrian loomed. 

She said at the moment there was a nearby existing public walking path for recreational users, including children. But the track is cut off by the railway line.

Ms Cole said the development would force people to dash across the road at Heinz Lane.

She said even just to continue on the recreational path, users would have to step onto the road to walk around the railway and get back on the path. She said the elderly, golfers from nearby Midland Golf Club, joggers and children on bikes frequently crossed the road. 

“It is just pure commonsense,” Ms Cole said.

“You spend money on boom gates then you spend the money on a pedestrian path over a railway line because it would save lives.” 

Ms Cole said people would be forced to play “chicken” with traffic if moves to improve safety alongside the dangerous stretch of road were not undertaken. 

She said her 10 grandchildren, aged between nine and 15, rode their bikes to her house in nearby Fairway Court weekly.

But now she feared their lives would be put at risk if they attempted to cross the busy 60km/h road when a train was coming. 

“Not only is it risking people’s lives but it is just pure stupidity,” Ms Cole said.

“It defies logic that you would upgrade a railway but fail to include safety measures for people who are crossing the road nearby,” she said.

“It would only take one accident for people to realise that unless something is done drivers have no way of knowing that people could be crossing.”

The Courier sought comment from Public Transport Victoria on the issue, but it stated it was unable to provide a response before the newspaper went to print.

melissa.cunningham@fairfaxmedia.com.au