First pedestrian crossing countdown clock installed in Melbourne’s CBD

A COUNTDOWN pedestrian crossing has been installed at one of the city’s black spot intersections to help reduce the number of collisions.

MELBOURNE’S first pedestrian crossing countdown clock has been installed in the CBD, at the corner of Spencer and Collins streets.

The new timer telling pedestrians how much time they have to cross the road is part of a $530,000 safety overhaul in the western edge of the city.

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The countdown clock installed on the corner of Collins and Spencer streets. Picture: Tony Gough

Other improvements have been made to the footpaths and ramps in an area that is used by 4500 pedestrians every evening peak period.

The works also aims to ease a bottleneck of passengers at the Spencer St tram stop.

Spencer St is rated as the worst black spot for fatal and serious injuries according to VicRoads’ pedestrian data.

Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan said the CBD’s first pedestrian timers would make the crossing safer.

“This intersection is the gateway to the Melbourne CBD, from Southern Cross Station and Docklands,’’ Mr Donnellan said.

The Spencer and Collins intersections is one of the city’s busiest for pedestrians. Picture: Jay Town

Transport Accident Commission chief executive Joe Calafiore said three out of four road deaths involving pedestrians last year happened in metropolitan Melbourne.

“And 67 per cent of all pedestrian deaths were in speed zones of 60km/h or less,” he said.

The innovation for Melbourne comes at least four years after the countdown clocks were installed at pedestrian crossings in Sydney.

Installing more pedestrian timers was an election campaign promise from Lord Mayor Sally Capp but the new lights were planned many months before she took office.

It’s believed Cr Capp is lobbying VicRoads and the state government for a further rollout of the timer-based crossings.

@IanRoyall