‘Someone will die’: fears over dangerous King St corner in North Melbourne
Bicycle hoops at this inner city corner continue to be mowed down and replaced as vehicles regularly slide off the road and onto the footpath. And locals fear someone will soon be killed.
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Residents and businesses in North Melbourne fear someone will die at a dangerous corner where cars and trucks regularly slide off and crash.
Bicycle hoops on the footpath are regularly mown down and vehicles have smashed into the Our Community House at the corner of Curzon and Victoria streets.
Denis Moriarty, head of social enterprise Our Community House, is angry that his repeated pleas to Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne have been ignored.
“Maybe if there was a death we could get VicRoads to finally get off its lazy and dumb a--e. Yes, I am really angry – this could have been one of our staff members killed.’’ he wrote.
Staff and local residents know to stand behind the telegraph pole at the pedestrian crossing as some form of protection from vehicles sweeping around the corner from the top of King St.
“It’s only a matter of time until someone is killed,’’ Mr Moriarty said.
He has been told by VicRoads that no fatal accidents had occurred at the corner so no action would be taken.
“So what, we have to wait for someone to die before something happens?’’
Residents describe the corner where two lanes swing into Curzon St as “crazy scary” and often report many near misses.
The camber of the road makes the 60km/h bend hazardous, especially in wet weather.
Residents have joked that the bike hoops are knocked over so regularly they should be fitted with hinges.
Cyclists don’t even lock their bikes up at the hoops because of the risk.
Last week a car slid through the corner and smashed into the Our Community House building, damaging the roller door. The driver then fled the scene.
A Victorian government spokesperson said that safety was always its highest priority.
“The Department of Transport and Planning is continuing to review safety at the intersection of Victoria St, Curzon St and King St.
“We’ll keep the local community updated as we assess and plan for any future necessary road safety upgrades.”
A City of Melbourne spokesperson said the council was aware of several incidents involving vehicles in wet weather at the intersection.
“The safety of all road users is our first priority – and we’re always looking at ways to improve traffic flow and ensure people can get where they need to go safely.”
The council has suggested installing hazard markers and bicycle separation kerbs to improve safety.
The bicycle hoops on Curzon St have been replaced three times since 2022.
The call for action comes as the City of Melbourne has embarked on a rollout of 40km/h zones in some streets in North and West Melbourne, and this month, local roads in Parkville and Carlton.
Even busy Arden St, which was two-lanes each way and 60km/h, is now single lane and slowed to 40km/h.
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