Parkdale crossing closure: Parents fear children at risk after McIndoe-Elm Gr path shutdown

The closure of a popular Parkdale rail crossing has left scores of children in “serious” danger, parents say.

More than 700 people are pushing for the reopening of a popular Parkdale rail crossing with relevant safety upgrades. Picture: Supplied

Parkdale parents fear a child could be seriously injured or killed as they are forced to walk a “highly dangerous” route to school following the closure of a popular rail crossing.

More than 700 parents and residents have signed a petition to reopen the McIndoe Pr/Elm Gr crossing with safety upgrades after it was deemed unsafe by the Department of Transport in December.

The closure has not only forced families to walk to areas with heavy traffic to get to Parkdale Primary School but has also added lengthy travel time for regular users to access the beach and other areas, campaigners told the Leader.

“We now have to either use the crossing down at Como Parade which is on a blind corner with cars coming around quickly or we have to walk up to Parkers Rd and cross at a roundabout … we then have to cross Como Pde East, which is another busy road,” mother of four Claire said.

“We often have to rely on the courtesy of a nice driver to stop and allow us to cross.” 

Elm Gr resident of more than four decades Faye said the closure added 1.2km in extra walking distance on her journey to visit friends on the other side of the road.

“We also have a limited time in which we can walk our dog along the beach as

we have to be off the beach by 10am … the closure has virtually cut into how we spend our time on the weekends,” she said.

“I like to walk, but sometimes I am restricted with my time. A huge number of people have been affected.”

Campaigner Steve Michelson urged the department to prioritise the safe reopening of the crossing along with new automatic bells and gates.

Mr Michelson said traffic along Nepean Hwy near Parkdale Primary School had also become particularly hazardous as many parents resorted to driving instead of trekking the longer distance.

“It is not acceptable to allow the error of closing the crossing to continue until a time that suits the rail engineers, while risking the lives of young families every day,” he said.

A Department of Transport spokeswoman told the Leader there had been 10 “near misses” at the crossing between February 2017-20.

Near-misses can include someone not paying attention while crossing the railway tracks, causing the train driver to apply a horn or emergency break.

“(This) is too many lives put at risk … there are crossings with active safety measures 300 metres and 350 metres away in each direction, and we urge people to use those to get across the tracks safely,” the spokeswoman said.

The department confirmed it could take more than one year to open a safe crossing due to planning, design phases, construction, signalling interfaces, testing and final commissioning.

“We’re investigating all options for the future of this crossing and we will keep the community informed as we do that work,” the spokeswoman said.

To view the petition, click here.