City of Whittlesea Road Safety Review

We’re reviewing the safety and efficiency of six roads in the City of Whittlesea to cater for the growing population.

Project background 

As one of the growth areas of Melbourne, the City of Whittlesea is undergoing a huge transformation in population and development. 

We’re carrying out a review to ensure the safety of these roads meets the growing demands of Whittlesea area.

The review is part of the vision of the Towards Zero strategy which aims to reduce road deaths in Victoria to 200 or below by 2020.

Crash statistics from City of Whittlesea over five years show:

• Edgars Road has 32 crashes, including 2 fatal and 7 serious accidents
• Childs Road has had 34 crashes, 12 serious
• Bridge Inn Road has had 19 crashes, 1 fatal and 4 serious
• Merriang Road has had 8 crashes, 1 fatal and 1 serious
• Plenty Road has had 13 crashes, 6 serious
• Donnybrook Road has had 11 crashes, 1 fatal and 10 serious

About the project

The roads under review are shown in the following maps:

Donnybrook Road between Plenty Road and the Melbourne-Sydney Railway Line 

Past safety improvements include the installation of safety barriers between Hume Freeway and Plenty Road in August 2012.

Plenty Road between Masons Road, Mernda and Grants Road, Whittlesea

View a larger version of the Plenty Road between Masons Road, Mernda and Grants Road, Whittlesea map [JPG 59 KIb]

With the development of Mernda Township, Plenty Road will continue to see population growth and increased traffic volumes.

Past safety improvements include the installation of traffic signals at Plenty Road and Masons Road in 2010.

Merriang Road between Wollert CFA and Grants Road

View a larger version of the Merriang Road between Wollert CFA and Grants Road map [JPG 60 Kb]

Merriang Road has seen an increase in traffic volume in the recent years. In addition, a few fatalities resulted from collision to rigid objects and such as utility poles have happened in the recent years.

Merriang Road was included in the rural mass curve road treatments (installation of barriers and signage audio tactile) between Craigieburn Road East to Northern Highway, completed in May 2017.

Bridge Inn Road between Epping Road and Yan Yean Road

View a larger version of the Bridge Inn Road between Epping Road and Yan Yean Road map [JPG 74 Kb]

Plans are underway to build mixed use land development on Bridge Inn Road, compounded with Mernda Township development, which will result in increasing pedestrian activities, and installation of a new railway station at Mernda.

Past safety improvements include the installation of traffic signals at Bassetts Road / Vantage Point Boulevard as well as Painted Hills Road/ Independence Boulevard, construction of footpath in front of Ivanhoe Grammar School and enforcement of a 40km/h school speed limit zone at the Ivanhoe Grammar School and Mernda Train Station construction, installation of a temporary children’s crossing near Resort Boulevard, and installation of safety barriers between Epping Road and Wellington Street.

Childs Road between Plenty Road and Dalton Road

View a larger version of the Childs Road between Plenty Road and Dalton Road map [JPG 74 Kb]

Childs Road is a largely residential area with a few schools along the road where drivers often back onto Childs Road from own driveways.   

Edgars Road between Mahoneys Road and Cooper Street

View a larger version of Edgars Road between Mahoneys Road and Cooper Street map [JPG 75 Kb]

Edgars Road has seen an increase in traffic volume and a number of road crashes in the recent years, as well as truck traffic on the road.