No speed humps, but new footpath

Speed humps will not be installed in Francis Ave, Drouin but Baw Baw Shire Council has committed to a new footpath.

Following an investigation by council officers, council decided not to install traffic calming devices that were requested by a group of Francis Ave residents. A new footpath, estimated to cost $80,000, will be included in council’s 2016/17 capital works program. A petition signed by eight residents was tabled with council in February and called on the installation of speed humps because of safety concerns for pedestrians.

Officers said Francis Ave and Albert Rd were local roads with speed limits of 50 km/hour.

Traffic surveys conducted in February 2016 found an average traffic volume of 118 vehicles per day along Francis Ave. The peak traffic volumes occurred between 9am and 10am and 3pm to 4pm.

Officers said the recorded traffic volume was well within the acceptable limit. The report said 85 per cent of motorists were detected travelling at or below 54km/h, which suggested there was a minor issue with speed compliance. Officers said traffic management treatments such as speed humps were preferred when there was strong evidence of ongoing traffic safety issues.

To resolve the concerns of pedestrian and vehicle conflict, officers investigated whether a footpath was suitable.

The report said this new footpath project was ranked highly at number five out of more than 110 projects in the list, which was high enough for inclusion in the capital works program for next year.

“The construction of a footpath along Francis Ave and Albert Rd will improve pedestrian safety by provision of physical separation of pedestrians from vehicles,” the report said.