Truck knocks down protective fence at Southbank accident blackspot after $3.8m safety works
A large truck has taken out protective fencing installed at a notorious Southbank corner where five people were hit by a truck in 2021.
Victoria
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A large truck has taken out protective fencing installed at a notorious Southbank blackspot where major works to improve safety were completed last year.
The long vehicle bumped over the corner entering Power St from City Rd on Monday night, ripping out two sections of the metal fence.
The intersection was the location for a horror accident in May 2021 when a truck hit five people waiting at the same pedestrian crossing.
The corner has been an accident blackspot for years, prompting the Department of Transport to spend $3.8m on works to improve safety at the corner.
Part of the revised layout was moving the pedestrian crossing over Power St farther around from the apex of the corner.
Some large trucks have to use City Rd because they are banned from the two tunnels. Vehicles carrying dangerous chemicals, fuel and livestock are not allowed in the Burnley or Domain Tunnels.
In the latest incident, the long truck paused as it appeared to hit the fence but then drove off.
Video footage from a Southbank apartment block captured the moment of impact.
Southbank Residents Association president Tony Penna, who has campaigned for greater safety for pedestrians at the corner, said the fence had only been recently installed.
“If there were pedestrians there at the time they could have certainly been injured, or even worse,’’ Mr Penna said.
It is not known if the truck had been identified by any CCTV cameras at the junction.
Plastic mesh fencing has been put up on the site of the damage.
A Department of Transport and Planning spokesman said it was working with City of Melbourne to replace the damaged fencing.
“We’re prioritising these works and expect this to be completed in the coming weeks.”
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