South Gippsland intersection safety concerns yet to be allayed

MEMBER for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien has acknowledged a safety improvement initiative planned for the intersection of Bass Highway and Leongatha South-Outtrim Road, but is calling for the intersection to be realigned to improve visibility, and for the creation of right hand turning lanes.

The intersection has been identified by Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) for the use of Side Road Activated Speed (SRAS) technology following a number of accidents.

When a motorist travelling on a side road approaches a main road with a 100km per hour speed limit, sensors trigger an electronic speed sign that temporarily reduces the speed limit to 70km per hour.

“On the Bass Highway, the Side Road Activated Speed signs will be triggered when a vehicle on Leongatha South-Outtrim Road or Rougheads Road approaches the highway,” RRV states. 

The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) has advised that electronic speed signs and vehicle detection works for the intersection concerned are scheduled to commence by May 2023. 

While thankful for any efforts to improve road safety and save lives, Mr O’Brien says more is required.

“I was contacted by local farmer Callum Moscript who highlighted a number of valid issues with the current intersection,” Mr O’Brien said.

Mr Moscript told the Sentinel-Times what prompted him to reach out to Mr O’Brien.

“There have been multiple collisions, fatalities, and it comes to a point that you ask, when are we going to do something about it?”

Having farming properties close to the intersection, Mr Moscript regularly witnesses its perils.

“I see near misses on nearly a weekly basis,” he said.

“Our farms are both sides of Rougheads Road and we have got vehicles and machinery that go up the road frequently, as well as suppliers.”

Mr O’Brien outlined his concerns with the current intersection.

“It is a T-type intersection of both Leongatha South-Outtrim Road and the Bass Highway, and across the road is a local road, Rougheads Road,” he said. 

 “For traffic coming onto the Bass Highway it is difficult to see looking towards Leongatha if you are coming out of the Outtrim Road.

 “The other issue is traffic turning right into the Outtrim Road does not have a right-turning lane. 

“There is a CFA shed and the old school on either side of the road, and there is an issue there with a small incline that makes it difficult for drivers coming down the road to see.”

 Mr O’Brien said after he raised the matter in State Parliament, seeking funding for a realignment, he was advised of the decision to install SRAS technology.

 “The installation of Side Road Activated Speed signs is a start, but the realignment of the intersection remains important and I’ll keep fighting for a safer outcome,” he said.
RRV reports it is investigating potential upgrades to improve traffic flow, safety and access along the Bass Highway at the Leongatha South-Outtrim Road and Rougheads Road intersection in Leongatha South, also outlining what sparked the investigation.

“As part of an extensive community engagement process undertaken in late 2017 and early 2018, the intersection at Leongatha South-Outtrim Road and Rougheads Road was identified by the community as a high-priority location for safety and accessibility improvements, which was supported by planning investigations undertaken by the project team,” it states.

Mr O’Brien believes more needs to be done to fix roads, particularly in regional Victoria, with reducing speed limits not a sufficient solution.