McMahons Creek children crossing dangerous road after VicRoads removed Reefton Hotel footbridge

Schoolchildren are dicing with danger every time they cross a busy McMahons Creek road after VicRoads removed a footbridge.

Schoolchildren are dicing with danger every time they cross a busy McMahons Creek road after VicRoads removed a footbridge.

The road authority removed the footbridge next to the Reefton Hotel more than a year ago for repairs, which meant children were forced to walk out onto the road to cross the river, to get home.

VicRoads then moved the bus stop from the pub carpark, onto Woods Point Rd, opposite Reefton Drive and lowered the speed limit from 80km/h to 60km/h.

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But the community is angry the bridge still hasn’t been fixed and VicRoads has put the speed limit back up to 80km/h.

Mother of two Melina Pascoe said VicRoads had divided their community — which live either side of the river — by removing the bridge. Mrs Pascoe said many of the families either lived up, or off Reefton Drive that loops around and becomes McMahons Creek Rd, so the hotel was a good drop off point.

Rural kids have been left to hop off the school bus at a makeshift gravel bus stop on Woods Point Rd, McMahons Creek, in an 80km/h zone. Picture: STEVE TANNER

Mrs Pascoe said children are being dropped at the new stop where there are three blind corners.

“And there are no footpaths,” Mrs Pascoe said.

“There can be up to 20 kids from teenagers to five-year-olds waiting to cross.”

McKenzie’s bus driver David Williams said VicRoads had temporarily moved the bus stop last year, and reduced the speed limit from 80km/h to 60km/h.

“I’d like the stop moved about 50m down the road so students could walk across the road safely,” Mr Williams said. “I don’t want to see my students hit by cars.”

Yarra Ranges Environment and Engineering director Mark Varmalis said the council had advocated for the authority to fix the bridge. “We would be supportive and willing to work with VicRoads to get pedestrian safety improvements installed for this area,” Mr Varmalis said.

VicRoads spokesman Aidan McGann said the pedestrian bridge was unsafe and the authority was working on plans for a new bridge over McMahons Creek.

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