Pedestrian lights planned for Point Nepean Road, Sorrento will help just ‘four people’

Sorrento is about to get a new set of traffic lights in a bid to make it easier to get to the beach. But locals say no one will use it. Here’s why.

A map showing where the new pedestrian crossing is proposed was letter boxed to Sorrento residents. Picture: supplied.

A pedestrian crossing that is meant to make one of the Mornington Peninsula’s busiest summer roads safer is being built in the wrong spot, say frustrated locals.

The Point Nepean Road crossing – which would be only set of lights between Blairgowrie and Portsea – is proposed near Holyrood and Erlandsen avenues.

Residents have slammed the decision, saying the location was “ridiculous” and a “waste of money”.

The crossing is part of a $3.3 million package of improvements being made to Point Nepean Road by the Department of Transport, including a pedestrian refuge at Dromana near Codrington Ave and pedestrian lights at Tyrone Ave in Rye.

It is understood the Sorrento crossing will cost $1.6 million.

According to the department the works were planned in consultation with Mornington Peninsula Shire to address emerging safety issues along the road.

A Department of Transport spokesperson said the improvements were based on “community feedback and high pedestrian volumes” and the crossing location was chosen because of safety, pedestrian accessibility and access to public transport.

But critics of the plan say the community wasn’t consulted, pedestrian counts weren’t done, and the crossing location was inappropriate.

The new crossing has been proposed near Erlandsen Ave near the entrance to campgrounds and the Bay Trail. Picture: Google maps

Paige McGinley, who is one of just four permanent residents of Erlandsen Ave, said Sorrento needed a crossing but it should be where it would benefit the most people.

“We don’t even have a footpath there to support people walking to a pedestrian crossing at Erlandsen Ave,” she said.

She said most locals wanted the crossing at either St Pauls Road or the Tuckey Track.

Another local Des Grogan said a pedestrian crossing was a waste of money.

Mr Grogan, who worked as a traffic and transportation engineer for 50 years, said the Transport Department had not followed its own rules for the project.

“DoT staff admitted that they did not have any pedestrian data... and other matters were considered,” he said.

These included access to amenities including a playground, beach and toilets.

However, Mr Grogan said the crossing location was 480m from a playground and 180m from a caravan park and the sailing club.

He said the busiest pedestrian areas were around a Lister Ave pedestrian refuge, generated by people parking in nearby streets and walking to Tideways beach, and near the Tuckey Track that people used to access to the sailing club.

Sailing club chief executive Henry Dyer said the club would prefer a crossing out the front but “something was better than nothing”.

Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Susan Bissinger said while council staff may have been consulted by the Department of Transport, she was disappointed councillors had no input.

According to the department other sites in Sorrento would be considered for pedestrian safety upgrades in addition to the proposed crosssing.

“We’ll continue to work with the community, the Mornington Peninsula Shire and relevant authorities to implement designs that work for the local community,” a spokesman said.

“We will keep the local community informed every step of the way.”