Shepparton’s Wyndham St traffic lights ‘not in use’ for four years

The traffic lights at a “notorious” intersection in Shepparton are yet to be turned on, four years after they were installed. Find out why.

Traffic lights at the intersection of Wyndham Street and MacIntosh Street, near the Shepparton Art Museum have not yet been turned on, four years after installation.

Traffic lights at a notorious Shepparton intersection will not be turned on until 80km of rail signalling upgrades are complete, despite the lights being installed more than four years ago.

And government officials for the Big Build project won’t say when the rail upgrades will be finished, only commenting it will be soon.

Greater Shepparton City Council put in the lights at the intersection of Fitzjohn St and the Goulburn Valley Highway in 2021 to improve access to the Shepparton Arts Museum.

But four years later, the government could not confirm when they would be turned on.

A generic statement from a Department of Transport and Planning spokeswoman said the department thanked the community for its patience and was working with council and the rail network to “get ready” to turn the lights on.

Meanwhile, a Level Crossing Removal Project spokesman confirmed the work was “close to being completed” but wouldn’t give an anticipated time frame, despite Jacinta Allan in 2021 — then the transport minister — saying the works would be finished in 2023.

State Liberal MP Wendy Lovell put questions about the frustrating delays to parliament last month, noting the patience of Shepparton residents had “run out”.

“The government must urgently finish the signalling works, turn on the traffic lights and get extra trains running on the Shepparton line,” she said.

Traffic lights at the intersection of Wyndham Street and MacIntosh Street, near the Shepparton Art Museum cannot be turned on until they are linked to the rail signals.

In response, Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams spruiked the rail upgrades but also refused to give any timeline on their completion.

“These upgrades will not only help reduce overcrowding on services but help get commuters home sooner and provide more options for travel,” she said.

Mooroopna resident Susan Hanson travels through the intersection five times a week, having previously lived on a nearby street.

“It’s a notorious intersection to try and cross whether by car or walking,” she said.

Shepparton resident Fiona Hobbs said the sooner the lights were turned on, the better.

“It will be very good for traffic flow and safer for everyone,” she said.

“It means you won’t be sitting there forever trying to turn, and people do get impatient.”

Michelle Hall agreed and said it was almost impossible to turn out of MacIntosh St or Fitzjohn St due to constant flows of traffic.

She said she often used to wait for a long time but now turns left and makes a U-turn where possible.

“There will always be people who will try and get in a small gap and that’s how accidents can happen,” she said.

Cecilia Pople said it would be great for the traffic lights to be turned on but worried people would not realise.

“There needs to be advertising and awareness when they are turned on so people are alert, otherwise they will be complacent and just drive straight through,” she said.

The intersection has seen multiple car crashes over the past 15 years, though no fatalities.