Darwin’s McMillans Road pedestrian crossing request causes controversy
A tender request for a new pedestrian crossing has been met with controversy by Top End residents. Have your say in our special poll.
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Shoppers will soon be able to safely cross a busy Darwin road thanks to a signalised pedestrian crossing.
Sanderson MLA Kate Worden on Friday said a tender for the construction of a pedestrian crossing across McMillans Rd had been requested.
“I have had a number of concerns raised with me over the years about pedestrians crossing McMillans road from the Northlakes shops to Anula,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
“Being an 80km zone and no easy way across particularly in the Wet Season, crossing can be problematic.”
Ms Worden said the crossing would be constructed at the western end of the shopping centre’s car park.
“The crossing will tie into an existing footpath on the northern side of McMillans Road and provide access to the shop’s carpark through a ramp on the southern side of McMillans Road,” she wrote.
“The crossing facility will also include a pedestrian refuge in the McMillans Road median strip.”
A Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics spokeswoman said the crossing would improve road safety for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists and improve accessibility to and from the McMillans Rd bus stop.
“Pending contractor availability, works are anticipated to commence in the first half of 2023 and are expected to be complete by late July 2023,” she said.
The tender request will remain open until February 27.
The announcement led to some controversy among Facebook users.
“This is disappointing – an engineering solution to a behavioural issue,” Amy Peterson wrote on Ms Worden’s post.
“The exact same issue is replicated 100-200m on the eastern side of the lights (and in other places along McMillans) with children crossing to get to the bus stop/s.”
“Please no, just upgrade the one at Mathews road,” Yrubdarb Kram wrote.
Others celebrated the move.
“Will make a big difference for people on foot and especially wheel chair users,” Simon Niblock wrote.
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