Safe Local Roads and Street
Project 5: MacDonald Street, Leongatha
Why this project?
MacDonald Street serves as a key connector to the education precinct, and experiences significant pedestrian traffic including children walking to the schools. There has been significant residential development south of Parr Street, which is ongoing and will continue to increase vehicle and pedestrian traffic using MacDonald Street to access these schools. MacDonald Street has a straight alignment and wide pavement, with reasonably steep hills down to a valley in its centre, which encourages high speeds by drivers. The footpath on MacDonald Street has gaps bringing walkers closer to the road pavement where speeds are highest.
What is involved?
MacDonald Street will be provided with road cushions to encourage drivers to take lower speeds, as well as introducing a raised pedestrian priority crossing near the Ogilvy Street intersection, and filling in the footpath gaps on the east side of MacDonald Street. At the bottom of the valley, MacDonald Street will be narrowed for a short distance to allow space to install the new footpath section.
What are the benefits?
The project will make a key route for children walking to Leongatha’s schools much safer, with lower vehicle speeds reducing the likelihood and severity of a crash and significant improvements to the footpath network meaning pedestrians will have much better continuity when travelling on this road.