Community campaign delivers fix for deadly Yellingbo road

A COMMUNITY campaign to fix a deadly section of road in Melbourne’s outer east is celebrating a major win with VicRoads starting work to improve safety.

Danger Road Progress - CFA

A COMMUNITY campaign to fix a deadly section of Yellingbo road is celebrating a major win with VicRoads conducting works to improve safety.

The Lilydale and Yarra Valley Leader launched a campaign to support Yarra Valley emergency services on their mission to have Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Rd repaired after several serious crashes, including a fatality, in 2015.

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Yellingbo CFA captain Paul Spinks said after a lengthy call to action, progress was finally being made with VicRoads contacting him to say work was starting.

VicRoads has installed curve alignment markers and curve warning signs on both approaches to the bend and sealed 80m of shoulder on the outer side of the curve to improve driver safety.

VicRoads acting regional director metro Vince Punaro said further improvements to signage would be made in coming weeks.

“I guess what’s pleasing to me is that they have done some works for the first time since the campaign started and I’ve actually had a phone call from VicRoads advising what they are doing to make it safer,” Mr Spinks said.

“It’s early days but since these works there’s been no evidence of an accident at that bend.

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“The work that the Leader has done to keep pressure on VicRoads has provided good results for everyone — it may save one life it may save many but the most important thing is we are doing what we can to make it safer.”

In April 2015, Leader reported that seven serious crashes had occurred on the road with four cars smashing into the same group of trees at the notorious bend.

By May 2015 VicRoads had changed the speed limit on the most problematic stretch of asphalt from 100km/h to 80km/h. Readers took to the Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader Facebook page to vent, saying it wasn’t good enough.

Scottie Easton commented: “Resurface the whole road. It’s rubbish.”

Jodie Barton said: “The road is terrible. I drove it yesterday under the speed limit and the potholes almost threw me off the road.”

In July 2015 Mr Spinks said his fire truck was being used more like an ambulance with crash numbers continuing to mount.

Eildon state Liberal MP Cindy McLeish jumped on board the campaign in October and Mr Spinks warned the community of the increased danger the road could pose over the holiday season in December.

Mr Spinks said the ultimate goal was to see the road fully resealed.

Mr Punaro said VicRoads would submit a proposal for resurfacing to occur under a future program that prioritised roads in need across the state.