Calls for pedestrian crossing on Scoresby Rd Boronia
The elderly and disabled are being forced to “play chicken” to get across a busy Boronia road to attend medical appointments. More than 2000 people have called for a pedestrian crossing to be installed at the site.
Outer East
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The elderly and disabled are being forced to dodge cars to get across a busy Boronia road so they can attend medical appointments.
More than 2000 people have signed a petition calling for a pedestrian crossing to be installed on Scoresby Rd near the Melbourne Eastern Healthcare Village, with fears someone could be hit and killed by a car.
Bupa Boronia Dental practice manager Kristel Stewart started the petition, and said many elderly and disabled patients crossed Scoresby Rd to access a number of medical services at the village.
“We’re a busy complex, a lot of people park in side streets and we also have local residents who walk here for a lot of treatments and they are unable to cross the road,” Ms Stewart said.
“Also schoolkids getting off the bus, if they have an appointment with a GP or specialist it’s almost a mission impossible, especially coming up to peak hour getting across the road.
“There is a school crossing further down the road at the bottom of a hill that hardly gets used; it’s impossible for the elderly and disabled to get down there and walk up the hill to get to the building.”
She said at the moment people were forced to wait for a break in traffic to get across the road.
“It’s a bit like playing chicken,” Ms Stewart said
She said she would like to see the existing crossing moved or a new one established outside the village.
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Director of Melbourne Eastern Healthcare Dr Gordon Wallace said the crossing would benefit a growing number of clients who choose to walk from their homes.
“A large number are local residents and some are more than happy to walk, but it’s a busy road and it’s very hard to cross,” Dr Wallace said.
“We have a need for a crossing to help people who are walking here.”
Cr Peter Lockwood presented a petition at a recent Knox Council meeting requesting the council install a controlled pedestrian crossing at the site.
The matter was set to be referred to the council’s engineering and infrastructure to investigate and engage with VicRoads.
Department of Transport spokeswoman Lauren Hilbert said it would continue to monitor traffic and pedestrian safety on this section of Scoresby Rd to determine the need for any future improvements.