Truganina residents up in arms over crossing at ‘wrong side’ of busy intersection

Angry Truganina residents are demanding a pedestrian crossing be installed at a “dangerous” intersection regularly used by students and shoppers.

Truganina residents say the absence of a pedestrian crossing on a “dangerous” road frequented by 20,000 cars every day poses significant safety risks in one of Melbourne’s fastest growing suburbs.

Students and shoppers hoping to avoid a daring run across the Woods Rd and Dohertys Rd intersection in Truganina could be waiting at least another seven months before the green man gives them safe passage across the road.
Despite Wyndham Council building a new 250m footpath along Woods Rd — connecting to Dohertys Rd, a state road — it’s understood council has been told it would have to wait until May 2026 to find out whether there’d be room in the state budget for an electronic pedestrian crossing at the end of it.
Council says the government “advised” if the footpath was built then a new crossing would be installed.

The new 250m Woods Rd footpath built by Wyndham City Council Picture: Athos Sirianos

The intersection is located within 1km of Truganina Central shopping centre and Bemin Secondary College’s junior campus.

Truganina mother Priya, whose son crosses the intersection to attend Bemin Secondary, said it was “dangerous” to not have safe passage across.

“How hard is it to add a pedestrian crossing so people can use that footpath, it’s just dangerous,” she said.
“You see kids riding their bikes and it’s not safe for them. There’s not a lot of space for kids to ride on the road either and all it takes is one driver’s inattention and then they’re in trouble.
“We’ve got a lot of ageing parents walking to the supermarket there as well. It’s quite concerning for me that we’re seeing how many billions over budget in other projects yet we can’t put a pedestrian light there for people to use.”

The Dohertys Rd end of the new Woods Rd footpath where residents say a crossing needs to be added Picture: Athos Sirianos

There is, however, a crossing on the non-footpath side of Woods Rd which pedestrians say is on the “wrong side” as this crossing leads to a short dead end dirt track, forcing pedestrians to dart across to the footpath side.

Truganina resident Jignesh Khambalkaar said the road in its current form was “not safe”.

“It doesn’t really make sense to have the crossing on that other side,” he said.

“It becomes hard to navigate and very risky, especially for kids riding their bikes.”

The crossing currently on Woods Rd leads pedestrians to a short dirt track rather than the footpath Picture: Athos Sirianos

This non-footpath side of Woods Rd has a crossing, with pedestrians forced to trot on a dirt road for several metres before crossing over to the footpath side Picture: Athos Sirianos

Wyndham deputy mayor Preet Singh said the government told council it would install a crossing if it finished the footpath.

“The state government advised Council that if we extended the footpath from the school and

shopping centre to the intersection that the state government would install the pedestrian

signals that are required as it is the state government’s responsibility for installing pedestrian

signals at this location,” he said.

“The installation of pedestrian lanterns are needed as a matter of priority to ensure the

community can safely use the newly constructed path at the intersection of Doherty’s and

Woods roads.”

Wyndham councillor Preet Singh stands at Woods Rd before the footpath was built Picture: Supplied

More than 20,000 cars use Dohertys Rd every day, it being a link to the M80 and Princes Freeway.

A Victorian Government spokeswoman said the department was working with council on the issue.
“We are working with Wyndham City Council to explore ways to improve pedestrian safety at the intersection of Woods Road and Doherty’s Road in Truganina,” she said.