Town may see the lights

By Melissa Grant
VICROADS is looking at installing traffic lights in Kooweerup as well as other measures to tackle road safety concerns in the township.
Residents are pressing for a Kooweerup bypass but in the meantime are calling for a set of traffic lights at the Rossiter Road and Station Street intersection as trucks rumble through the town at a rate of 70 an hour.
VicRoads Metropolitan South East Regional Director Steve Brown said an investigation was underway to determine possible interim safety measures for Healesville-Kooweerup Road as well as the installation of traffic signals within the township.
He didn’t specify where in the township the signals would be installed.
The move comes after VicRoads personnel met Cardinia’s Traffic Management Unit (TMU) last fortnight to discuss road safety concerns in Kooweerup.
Leading Senior Constable Anthony Templar said several “action items” came out of the meeting.
He said the future of the town’s three main intersections – Rossiter Road and Station Street, Rossiter Road and Sybella Avenue and Sybella Avenue and South Gippsland Highway – was discussed.
Mr Brown said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the increase traffic volumes at Healesville-Kooweerup Road since the Pakenham bypass opened.
Members of the Kooweerup Township Committee have written to the State Government requesting interim safety measures, including traffic lights at the Rossiter Road and Station Street intersection.
They have also written to the Federal Government asking for $6.5 million for the Kooweerup Bypass Project, in the hope of also getting the State Government to commit funds.