FRESH crashes show why the speed limit on part of Baranduda Boulevard should fall to 60km/h, Wodonga councillors have been told.
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The councillors will on Monday night vote on five recommendations to cut speed limits on roads across the city after receiving public feedback.
The council voted in April to seek comments on the proposals.
The most debated proposal among the community was to make 60km/h, rather than 80km/h, the permanent limit for a 900-metre section of the boulevard from Boyes Road past St Francis of Assisi Primary School leading into Baranduda.
Currently a 60km/h maximum applies on the strip, which includes the intersection with John Schubert Drive, during school hours.
In his report for Monday night’s council meeting, the city’s infrastructure and projects manager Theo Panagopoulos cites recent collisions for the need to cut the limit.
“A reduction in speed limit will have a positive impact on road safety,” he wrote.
“Subsequent to the conclusion of the consultation period, two crashes have been recorded at the intersection of John Schubert Drive and Baranduda Boulevard further reinforcing the need to reduce the speed limit in this location.”
The council has also been urged to seek VicRoads’ approval for removing an ‘End 80’ sign, which has caused confusion on the boulevard, and replace it with a 100km/h sign.
A push to have the 60km/h zone extend north past the entrance to Westmont Aged Care was rejected on the basis it would have “limited benefit”.
Also set for approval is a plan to extend a 70km/h limit on Felltimber Creek Road in west Wodonga from west of McGaffins Road to south of Coyles Road.
The 800-metre leg, which passes the Hunchback Hill mountain bike park, has a 100km/h limit now.
One respondent had suggested keeping the 100km/h peak and creating a bike path or lane instead.
A 40km/h school zone area will also be widened around Victory Lutheran College in west Wodonga with a recommendation to spread it to the western end of Lawrence Street and further along Parkers Road, Moorefield Park Drive and Drage Road.
Mr Panagopoulos noted the college had made a recent budget submission to the council to tackle traffic congestion associated with students arriving and leaving the school and investigations were occurring.
The other cuts up for ratification involve Huon Creek Road and Kitchington Road, south of the city.
A 60km/h limit on Huon Creek Road will shift west by 400 metres and an 80km/h zone moved a similar distance, while on Kitchington Road the 50km/h section will be extended 300 metres past Hampshire Road.
