Dandenong Rd: Locals beg for safety upgrades at Koornang Rd, Darling Rd intersection

Locals are crying out for urgent safety upgrades at a busy intersection in Melbourne’s inner east where two elderly women have been killed in a month.

A woman in her 80s was killed at the intersection of Dandenong Rd and Koornang Rd in Carnegie on June 24. Picture: Tony Gough.

Safety works at a deadly inner east intersection are coming after two elderly women were killed by cars this month.

The state government has announced it is working on a $150,000 project to improve safety and traffic flow on Dandenong Rd at the intersection of Carnegie’s Koornang Rd and East Malvern’s Darling Rd.

The details come after a petition for urgent action has received more than 1200 signatures in two days.

Rosemary Kennedy, 81, was killed when she was hit by a car while she crossed Dandenong Rd on June 19 at 8pm.

Her death came after an 80-year-old Malvern East woman was also hit by a car while crossing the road at the intersection on June 9.

The woman was rushed to The Alfred hospital but died that afternoon from her injuries.

Malvern East resident Carole, who didn’t give her surname, said she had been contacting the State Government since late 2017 with her concerns over the intersection.

She claimed she and other pedestrians had often almost been hit by cars turning right from Koornang Rd while they crossed Dandenong Rd, as drivers allegedly didn’t give way.

“It’s a well known hazard and an accident waiting to happen,” she said.

“If you’re crossing, you have to jump back because the cars come right at you.”

Carole said the two deaths were “not a surprise” to locals and the design of the intersection needed urgent change.

“They (Department of Transport) have been aware of it of a very long time, residents have raised it repeatedly, and still nothing has been done.”

“We are dealing with people almost being hit daily … the drivers keep turning into pedestrians … we can’t sit on this for another few years.”

A Department of Transport spokeswoman said work had already started on improving safety at the intersection before this month’s fatal incidents.

Red traffic arrows from Koornang and Darling roads are among the options being considered.

“We are taking action to address the concerns around this intersection and protect all motorists and pedestrians who use it each day,” the spokeswoman said.

“Prior to the accident this week, investigations were underway to improve the safety of this intersection and this work will be completed soon.”