TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2009 - 68 PAGES - $1.20
CAROLS IN THE DROME Leongatha Velodrome - This Saturday - Details page 24
Log jam A TRUCK rolled on the South Gippsland Highway near Koonwarra yesterday morning, leaving the road strewn with large logs. The accident occurred at around 6.30am, with the driver losing control between the winding section of the Black Spur and Minns Road. The driver miraculously escaped injury. See details page 13.
Wrong way Call for bypass as trucks cause havoc By Brad Lester THE lack of a bypass in Leongatha is forcing truck drivers to cross over a traffic island at one of the major intersections in town. An earthmoving contractor with a big load was recently left with no alternative but to drive over an island at the intersection of Ogilvy, Long and Bair streets. A concerned Leongatha resident, who wished to remain anonymous, believes a roundabout at the intersection would draw trucks away from Bair Street and improve safety. The resident said with a bypass of Leongatha unlikely for many years, the roundabout would enable extra large vehicles to use Long Street as an alternative route to Bair Street, thereby improving pedestrian
safety in the commercial strip. A former dairy alongside the intersection has been demolished, paving the way for future works. The intersection is one of the busiest in Leongatha, being en route to two primary schools and Leongatha Secondary College, and on the main road to Nerrena and Dumbalk. But locals fear it will take a death before authorities start to make any moves on a bypass. VicRoads does not have any plans to upgrade the intersection but regional director Patricia Liew said VicRoads would investigate the possibility of roundabouts and traffic lights, as part of planning for an alternate truck route through Leongatha. “Last year South Gippsland Shire commissioned a traffic study in regards to a Leongatha alternate truck route. The study
recommended a preferred option for an alternate truck route along Hughes Street and Long Street,” she said. “VicRoads will consider this route in future planning. Priority for a planning study must be considered on a statewide basis.” Council spokesperson Jeannie Hicks said the intersection would be addressed as part of the Leongatha Heavy Vehicle Bypass. Council is working with VicRoads to progress that project. Sergeant Scott Bodycomb of Leongatha Police supported a bypass to improve traffic safety in Leongatha. “It’s something that’s been on the cards for many years but nothing seems to be happening. It’s not ideal for heavy vehicles to come through the roundabout at Bair Street,” he said. Continued on page 13.
Pulled out: a road sign awaits replacing on a traffic island at the intersection, removed to allow a truck passage.