Council lobbying for action on Bamford Avenue safety concerns

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By Holly McGuinness

Hume council will lobby the state government to address traffic concerns on Bamford Avenue, and Mickleham Road in Westmeadows.

A recent traffic management investigation revealed a number of safety issues at the intersection, particularly for drivers turning right, with several turning conflicts in place, according to a report presented to a council meeting on Monday, September 12.

Hume council and the Department of Transport identified the most suitable option would be to close right turns heading into Bamford Avenue and provide a dedicated U-turn space to the south of the intersection, removing conflict points of vehicles that turn right out of Bamford Avenue.

Councillor Jarrod Bell said while the intersection was not a council-controlled road, the report indicated a need for council to lobby the government for funding.

“We would need to advocate for, and the department would need to seek funding through future state budget processes,” Cr Bell said.

“I have already had a number of early conversations with our state representative… osh Bull, the member for Sunbury in this particular space as well.”

According to the report, a survey undertaken on Thursday, December 9, 2021, during afternoon peak hour traffic found 4117 vehicles used the intersection, causing significant congestion between multiple lanes and often causing large delays.