Miners Rest residents have raised concerns over drivers speeding through a service lane to avoid roadworks on Howe Street despite families and children nearby.
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Concerned mother Amber Cubitt said drivers were using the service lane to race temporary traffic lights and avoid congestion on the 40 km/h stretch of road.
“There are walkers with dogs and prams, families walking along the service road because there is no footpath, and our kids ride along it to and from school,” she said.
Ms Cubitt said there already had been too many close calls for residents including herself as a driver and her kids on their bikes.
”We’ve told them to ride single file and be more aware,” she said.
“I do feel scared and a bit nervous, I just watch the clock and make sure they’re coming home on time.”
Residents have called for temporary speed bumps to be installed on the service road to deter speeding drivers or police presence at peak times.
VicRoads regional director Ewen Nevett said since the works were developer funded, it would be the responsibility of the developer to implement such measures.
“If temporary speed humps were proposed to be used on a council road, such as the service road on Howe Street, they would need to be involved as VicRoads has no jurisdiction over those roads,” Mr Nevett said.
City of Ballarat director of infrastructure and environment Terry Demeo said in a statement Howe Street was a VicRoads road, but did not mention the service road where the speed bumps would be implemented.
He said while residents had raised concerns, the council was not aware of any requests for temporary speed bumps.
The developer declined to comment.
While it is believed the works will be completed by the end of next week, Ms Cubitt said residents’ safety needed to be ensured before it was too late.
“I’ve been told they’re planning more roadworks in January and it’s probably going to happen again.”