VicRoads focuses on deadly Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Rd to try and prevent more deaths

REALIGNING a deadly stretch of Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Rd has not been ruled out by the state’s road authority following three deaths this year.

VicRoads is looking at options to make Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Rd, Woori Yallock, safer. Picture: Daniel Pockett

A DEADLY stretch of Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Rd could be realigned by the state’s road authority to make it safer after three deaths this year.

It was one of several options discussed as VicRoads regional director Aidan McGann spoke to the Leader about solutions to fix the section of road between Dalry and Symes roads in Woori Yallock.

“We are very much focused on what we can do to increase safety on that road,” Mr McGann said.

Koo Wee Rup Road: Plea for urgent fix at Woori Yallock black spot

“The road goes through pretty challenging country … because it attracts some urban traffic on a country road which introduces challenges for everyone.”

He said that section of road had been patched but was due to be resealed early next year.

“Our understanding is (the police) investigation showed the road surface was acceptable but the curves where the crash occurred needed adequate warning for drivers which may have played a role,” Mr McGann said.

He said since the last accident, VicRoads had changed advisory speed signs and guide posts to better advise drivers about upcoming curves in the road.

Police plead for VicRoads action after another fatal car crash on unsafe Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Rd

Mr McGann said other possible solutions included guard rails, widening the road shoulders, and audio tactile line marking which alerted drivers crossing onto the wrong side or edge of the road.

He said it was not certain VicRoads could realign the road but it was not ruled out of its investigation, to be finalised next year.

The Leader previously reported CFA firefighters and police formed a group to lobby VicRoads to fix the 14km stretch of road, from Healesville to Warburton.

The emergency meeting followed a fatal Father’s Day accident that killed 32-year-old Alan Binns when his girlfriend lost control of the car and collided with an oncoming car.

Mr Binns’ grieving stepsister Katie Thompson pleaded with authorities to urgently fix the road after the accident.

Mr Binn’s death came after a double fatality just 100m away, on April 9 when a LandCruiser carrying five people veered off the road, rolled and smashed into a tree.

VicRoads regional director Aidan McGann said there were four recorded crashes causing serious injury and deaths in the past five years on that section of the road.

He said the community would be consulted before any changes were made, and he encouraged victims’ families to talk to VicRoads about how it can make the road safer.