Pedestrian crossing at Centreway Shopping Centre intersection in Keilor East gets the green light

A PEDESTRIAN crossing for Milleara Rd looks certain to proceed after both the Liberal and Labor parties committed to the project if elected.

N35MV204 Pedestrain Crossing. Retailers are calling for a pedestrian crossing to be put in at Centreway Shopping Centre on Milleara road in Keilor East. Pictured is Kevin Marshall, Trevor Sinclair, Mario Petroscino and Margaret Marshall.

A PEDESTRIAN crossing for Milleara Rd looks certain to proceed after both the Liberal and Labor parties committed to the project if elected on November 29.

Keilor East residents have for decades called for a crossing at the Centreway Shopping Centre intersection, where elderly residents scramble across four lanes of traffic because the nearest crossing is 500m to the south, on Clarks Rd.

Niddrie state Liberal candidate Rebecca Gauci Maurici and Labor MP Ben Carroll both committed $300,000 to button-operated crossing lights if elected.

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It has been welcomed by long-time campaigner Margaret Marshall, secretary of the East Keilor Sustainability Street Community Garden.

“My main concern is the elderly trying to manage to get across four lanes of traffic and really don’t have other options as far as shopping is concerned,” she said.

Moonee Valley Neighbourhood Watch chairman Trevor Sinclair said residents took their lives into their own hands crossing Milleara Rd because cars sped “hell for leather” after coming through Keilor Park Drive.

“It’s taken a long time to get this far, but at least both sides are talking about the issue,” Mr Sinclair said.

Both Mr Carroll and Ms Gauci Maurici said it had been one of the biggest issues raised by residents.

“The good news is I think we can guarantee, no matter who gets elected, it would get done,” Mr Carroll said.

“It’s something the community has been wanting for a long time and something I wanted since I was elected.”

Ms Gauci Maurici said it was a “really dangerous location”, particularly with the number of elderly residents and mums with prams who crossed the road.

Although Transport Minister Terry Mulder told Parliament in October that VicRoads found it would cost about $410,000, Ms Gauci Maurici said she was confident that $300,000 would cover the cost of the crossing if the money was “spent wisely”.

And Mr Carroll said he would work with Moonee Valley Council to pay for any shortfall.