Motorists demand solution to near-misses at Nunawading intersection of Whitehorse, Rooks and Dunlavin roads
It’s a despised three-way intersection that is causing havoc along a busy eastern suburbs road. Motorists are calling for a fix — but it’s not so simple. Here’s what’s going on.
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Motorists are so fed up with a Nunawading intersection they’re deliberately taking wrong turns to avoid chaos in Whitehorse Rd.
Drivers who attempt a right hand turn from either Rooks or Dunlavin roads immediately confront each other in the busy main road.
They’re also met by people wanting to turn right from Whitehorse into either side street, creating a dangerous log jam.
There have been five reported crashes in the last five years, with one resulting in serious injury.
Road users are signing a petition demanding action to redesign the awkward junction on one of the region’s busiest roads.
Cherrybrook Close homeowner Yvonne Wood said she preferred to turn left out of Dunlavin Rd and do a U-turn further up Whitehorse Rd.
“I had a situation with a lady travelling west who wanted to turn right into Dunlavin Rd. She couldn’t get past me but I couldn’t really move, it was an absolute Catch 22,” Ms Wood said.
Whitehorse Council’s Prue Cutts and Ben Stennett are circulating a petition calling for the Government to fix the intersection.
“This intersection is dangerous. There have been many accidents and near misses here before. This intersection needs a complete rethink,” Cr Cutts said.
Facebook users commented on a post by Cr Cutts calling for action on the road.
Judy Pedersen said: “It would be great if someone could think of a way to encourage through traffic to use Mitcham or Springvale roads instead.”
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Graham McCallum said: “Consideration should be given to blocking right hand turns from Whitehorse into Dunlavin and Dunlavin into Whitehorse.”
But he cautioned doing so could create more problems at the intersection of Dunlavin and Springfield roads.
Ringwood state Labor MP Dustin Halse said the Department of Transport was determining if any immediate safety improvements could be made.
“This takes into consideration factors such as the number and type of vehicles using the intersection, the need to cater for pedestrians, the historical safety record of the site and the impact the improvements would have on the surrounding road network,” he said.
Deakin federal Liberal MP Michael Sukkar was contacted for comment.