WORKS to a notorious stretch of the Ballan-Daylesford Rd had the potential to do more harm than good, according to Sailors Falls resident Stefan Nechwatal.
But VicRoads regional manager for western Victoria, Lance Midgley, said the stretch of road had not been identified as a blackspot and the authority had been lucky to secure funds for the minor works.
Mr Nechwatal lives near the site of two accidents which occurred within 12 months.
The first accident, which nearly cost a life, saw a fuel tanker lose control and overturn in April 2004 and in April this year, a semi-trailer lost control and smashed through safety barriers.
VicRoads is carrying out shoulder resealing and installing new signs to advise of the 80kmh speed limit, but Mr Nechwatal said access to a tourist car park was still a major concern.
"Access to the car park was supposed to be relocated to Telegraph Rd and further away from the confusion of the Ballan Rd," he said.
"VicRoads forgot to include the relocation in the tender to Roadcon construction engineers," he said.
Mr Nechwatal said he was extremely disappointed and frustrated by the ongoing saga.
"After more than 10 years as a generally sole community activist trying to get this intersection made safer for all, I'm back where I started in 1995," he said.
"Once the road works are complete and without this necessary carpark entrance relocation, the intersection may be even more dangerous as the new bitumen and wider shoulders will encourage speeding, especially of heavy trucks
which are now the most dangerous users at this site."
Mr Midgley said VicRoads secured funding due to the high number of run-off-the-road accidents, but the stretch was not a blackspot.
"There are hundreds of other intersections in Victoria that would have a far worse crash history."
Mr Midgley admitted the relocation of the car park entrance had been left off the tender.
"It's not our intention to leave it as it is," he said.
"(But) we need to have further discussions with Parks Victoria. Also it's not a good time of the year to be starting road works."