Safer local roads in Braybrook, Maidstone and West Footscray
Published on 09 April 2021
To create safer local roads for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in Braybrook, Maidstone and West Footscray, Council is reducing speed limits along most Council owned roads in these suburbs during April and May.
This is part of Council’s ‘Safer Local Roads’ project – a partnership with VicRoads to lower the speed limit to 40km per hour on Council owned roads throughout the City of Maribyrnong.
The reduced limits in Braybrook, Maidstone and West Footscray is part of a phased roll out, which has seen speed limits reduced in Footscray, Kingsville, Seddon and Yarraville since 2019.
There are over 290km of Council owned roads in Maribyrnong and ensuring locals are safe on and around these roads is important. By lowering the speed on Council owned roads, we can help ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers by reducing the risk of injury or fatality, and providing a safe space that encourages residents to use more sustainable modes of transport such as walking or cycling.
Data and statistics from our previous Safer Local Road treatments in Seddon and Yarraville in 2019 highlight the success of the program, with a significant reduction of reported crashes in the area. We have seen a 55% reduction of average annual casualty crashes* in these areas since the implementation of the treatment, and we expect to see similar results in Braybrook, Maidstone and West Footscray in the future.
Lower speeds also help with road congestion by encouraging a stable traffic flow, along with reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air and noise pollution.
The Safer Local Roads Project was endorsed by Council in October 2017 and is based on results from Local Area Traffic Management studies conducted in our municipality and feedback from residents feeling unsafe when walking or cycling in their local streets due to cars travelling at high speeds.
New signage will be installed in Braybrook, Maidstone and West Footscray during April and May, after which, Victoria Police will enforce the new 40km/hr speed limit.
For more information about the project please visit: www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/saferlocalroads
* Post Implementation Review of 40 km/h Area Speed Zone, Seddon and Yarraville Precinct 2020, O’Brien Traffic.
Message from the Mayor, Cr Michael Clarke
We want to do all we can to ensure residents and visitors are safe on and around our road network, and by reducing the speed limit on Council owned roads, we are helping create safer road environments for all users – pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
With Maribyrnong’s population forecast to grow by 80% over the next 25 years, it is important we plan for this growth while focusing on the safety of locals and promoting safe, sustainable transport methods such as walking and cycling.
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