CARDIGAN Village locals say a speed drop at the Madden Road intersection does not go far enough to reducing the high accident rate along Remembrance Drive.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The state government says the intersection, at which there has been one fatality and 18 people injured in the past four years, will have its speed reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h within weeks.
Rumble strips will also be installed and extra signage alerting motorists of the changed conditions will also be added in the lead up to the intersection.
The changes have been supported by the Avenue of Honour committee, which wants to see as minimal disruption to Remembrance Drive as possible, but still remain focused on safety.
But Cardigan Village locals, who travel through the intersection daily say the changes will not stop hoon drivers from speeding as a roundabout would have.
Cardigan Community Centre committee member Rebecca Black said while she was happy that something was being done, it did not go far enough.
"Really in all honesty it isn't going to stop idiots speeding," she said.
"It's never an issue for people who do the right thing, but the people who do the wrong aren't going to stop or slow down.
"The fact is, it's considered a country road, people just speed on it trying to get from A to B as quickly as possible.
"A roundabout was a more appropriate option, you don't have an option with a roundabout, you have to slow down."
Wendy Gottlieb agreed, saying often when she slowed down to turn into Madden Road, cars were quick to be right up behind her.
"Just from the experience I've had driving along there, I don't know if changing the speed limit will do anything," she said.
"I've lived in Cardigan four years, I love the area, the view, the farmland, the community is all very good.
"For some reason Remembrance Drive is an issue, we tend to only think of the intersection being the issue," Ms Gottlieb said.
"But I'm gobsmacked at the accidents on the 'Bermuda Triangle' of Cardigan, I can't understand why it happens, it's a long straight stretch of road after all."
Councillor Daniel Moloney, who is also a member of the Avenue of Honour committee said it was important that initial safety changes added as little change to the 100 year-old avenue as possible.
"While a roundabout might very well be a final solution, it's completely reasonable to try other things first," he said.
"A roundabout would be a last resort.
"We're happy for this approach because of the lack of physical impact on the road itself.
"We work closely with VicRoads and this intersection is abnormally high in all the stats. If we had a state agency not paying attention to the stats, then that would be cause for concern."
Robert Ling, who this year purchased the Windermere Hotel at the corner of Madden Road and Remembrance Drive said while the change would not have a commercial impact on a renovated business, he agreed something had to be done.
"It can be a very difficult intersection to negotiate," he said. "More so the coming up from Madden Road.
"It's yet to be seen whether the reduction will have any positive impact.
"People will still do the wrong thing and it might heighten the risk of the intersection. It's a preliminary measure to reduce the damage but it may have some impacts at Madden Road."
Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
