The Craigieburn Sikh temple has renewed calls for an overpass to be built across the Hume Highway.
Temple secretary Gurdeep Singh Matharoo said Craigieburn Gurdwara – as the temple is referred to in the Sikh community – had been in discussion with Hume council for some years to address the lack of pedestrian access to the temple from Craigieburn railway station.
Last month, funding was announced for road improvements to Potter Street, including construction of footpaths. There are no footpaths along Potter Street or the Hume Highway, despite both being the route hundreds of temple visitors use each week.
“They sent someone to conduct a traffic survey in 2012, but nothing happened after that,” Mr Matharoo said.
“We’ve asked for an overpass or traffic lights. We’ve tried our best, but nothing is happening.”
Mr Matharoo said between 3000 and 4000 people visited the temple each week, and they came for Wednesday and Sunday prayer sessions via the Hume Highway from within a radius of about 35 kilometres.
Staff at a factory in Potter Street, opposite the railway station, say temple visitors walk along the busy industrial street before making their way across the highway.
One worker, who asked not to be named, said he frequently saw families “cut across the Hume Highway”.
He said “no one” obeyed the 50-kilometre speed limit near the train station.
Hume infrastructure director David Fricke said the highway was managed by VicRoads.
He urged pedestrians not to cross the highway anywhere other than at a pedestrian crossing.
Mr Fricke said they had the option of using the traffic lights at the intersection of Grasslands Avenue and Sydney Road, which is about 500 metres south of the temple.
VicRoads metro north-west acting regional director Mark Koliba said the roads body recently met Hume council, raising pedestrian issues and discussing proposals that would improve safety for temple-goers coming from the station.
“We ask the community to be extra-vigilant when crossing roads and be aware of their surroundings,” Mr Koliba said.
