Murray Rd, Coburg to have speed limit reduced to 40km/h in school times

A years-long campaign to reduce the speed limit of a dangerous road outside a Coburg school has chalked up a victory, with the limit set to be reduced during school times.

Murray Road in Coburg is set to see the speed limit reduced to 40km/h in during school times. Picture: Supplied.

A terrifying Coburg road that was leaving high school students terrified to walk or cycle will have the speed limit reduced to 40km/h during school times.

Residents have been campaigning for the speed on Murray Rd to be reduced for years, saying the footpath was too close to the four traffic lanes.

Others, at a nearby childcare centre, have seen multiple crashes.

And a community safety survey undertaken by advocate group Safer Walking and Riding for Murray Rd (SWARM) revealed Coburg High School students were not confident to walk and ride along the busy stretch of road to get to school.

After a Department of Planning and Transport assessment — considering factors like road function, safety records, volumes of road users, access points along the route, adjacent speed zones and other characteristics — local MP Anthony Cianflone announced a 40km/h School Speed Zone had been approved between Stockade Ave and College Blvd.

A car as hit a power pole along Murray road Coburg near Newlands Rd. Picture: Jason Edwards

A letter from Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne, seen by the Herald Sun, revealed the transport department conducted an assessment “considering factors like road function, safety records, volumes of road users, access points along the route, adjacent speed zones and other characteristics”.

Merri-Bek residents have demanded action for years after multiple crashes. Picture: Himangi Singh

“DTP has approved the implementation of a 40km/h school speed zone between Stockade

Ave and College Blvd to enhance safety for schoolchildren,” Ms Horne wrote.

The project — as part of the Commonwealth Road Safety Program, Urban Speed package — will see new speed signs installed and be in place by the end of June 2026.

Local MP Anthony Cianflone said it was a “fantastic outcome and huge win for our community”.

Murray Road in Coburg is set to see the speed limit reduced to 40km/h in during school times. Picture: Supplied.

It was, he said, “the first time a dedicated 40km/ph Safer School Speed Zone has been approved for implementation by DTP along Murray Rd”.

“Building on the community’s extensive advocacy, DTP’s approval also complements the Parliamentary Inquiry on Road Safety’s recommendations around the need to make state arterial corridors safer for local, school and vulnerable road user cohorts, that I was proud to support and champion reform on,” Mr Cianflone said.

Merri-bek residents have rallied to make Murray Rd safer for years. Picture: Himangi Singh

SWARM spokeswoman Cate Hall said the group was grateful for the action to address long standing community concerns about speed limits near Coburg High.

“We look forward to further government action to improve the safety of vulnerable road users,” Ms Hall said.

“There is much more work ahead to keep our community safe.”

SWARM will continue to advocate for more changes with another community meeting planned for July 6.

Coburg High principal Brent Houghton said he “welcomes the introduction of a 40km/h school speed zone as a useful first step for making Murray Rd safer”.

A social media post by the school went on to detail what else was needed including

narrowing Murray Road to two lanes, wider footpaths, protected bike lanes and a 24/7 speed reduction to 50 km/h between Sydney Road and Elizabeth Street.

A parent at the school said the action was a “great first step” but feared the new zone wasn’t long enough.

“It misses one of the most dangerous areas between Elizabeth Street and College boulevard,” she posted.

In the first three months of this year there were four recorded crashes on the Coburg road, and data collected by SWARM revealed another nine traffic incidents in the past six months.

The most recent crash happened during school drop-off on Wednesday when a car slammed into a pole at the Connolly Ave and Outlook Rd intersection.

On January 9, a car travelling east near Outlook Rd mounted a kerb at speed, narrowly missing poles and wires before ricocheting across the road and coming to a stop facing the opposite direction with blown-out tyres.

Less than two weeks later, on January 22, a car flipped at the Murray Rd and Elizabeth St intersection around 9am.

On March 5 a car ploughed into pedestrian and bike crossing lights near the Coburg Olympic Pool, knocking down the light pole.

Originally published as Murray Rd, Coburg to have speed limit reduced to 40km/h in school times