Road improvement works on Old Dandenong Road

Every year, Council invests over $10 million in roads and drainage infrastructure to support the current and future needs of our community.

As part of its commitment to reduce traffic speed and increase safety for all road users, Council has identified the section of Old Dandenong Road (between Warrigal Road and Bourke Road) as being in need of traffic management improvements.

Speeding

Before the Dingley Bypass opened in 2016, Old Dandenong Road (between Warrigal and Bourke Roads) was part of the arterial road managed by VicRoads (now the Department of Transport) and accommodated high volumes of ‘through’ traffic. Following the opening of Dingley Bypass, the road carried much lower traffic volumes of mostly ‘local’ traffic and, consequently, it was reclassified to a local Council road. However, the community have raised concerns that drivers using the road are still driving at unsafe speeds, as the width of the road creates the perception of high speed road. Council is planning to undertake significant traffic measures to improve the safety of community members who use this residential road, including cyclists and pedestrians

Proposed road improvement works

In February 2021, we issued a bulletin to directly-affected residents in the neighbourhood, outlining Council's long term plans for Old Dandenong Road. Wider consultation was undertaken in August 2021, explaining the main traffic features proposed. Thanks to everyone who provided us with feedback which helped to inform the design of the ‘functional’ layout plan, which illustrates the road works that can be delivered.

To improve safety, we aim to:

• Extend the existing shared user path on Warrigal Road along the south side of Old Dandenong Road, between Warrigal Road and Belgrave Close. A ‘shared path’ is where pedestrians and cyclists share the same path space.
• Provide central island crossings close to Belgrave Close, Columbia Street and Washington Drive, to help cyclists and pedestrians to cross the road.
• Install traffic calming measures, such as threshold treatments on the side roads, speed cushions and a speed hump, between Belgrave Close and Columbia Street - where all traffic (including bicycle riders) will travel on the road.
• Narrow the road to a standard width and use the additional space, to provide a two-way cycle path on the north side of Old Dandenong Road, between Columbia Street and Bourke Road. The ‘two-way’ bicycle path will allow bike riders (only) to cycle in either direction - protected from motor traffic by a barrier such as a concrete separator.
• On-street parking will be retained on the south side of the road (except at bus stops) but will be prohibited on the north side of the road (beside the golf course). Where possible, parking lanes will be marked out on the south side by line markings.
• Landscaping at Washington Drive and Barkers Street will improve pedestrian access (which would see the opening in the central median in Washington Drive at Montrose Street, closed). Drivers will still be able to make all turns into and out of Old Dandenong Road at these intersections.
• Hatched line-markings at intersections will also narrow the appearance of several side road – whilst allowing larger vehicles to access these road.
• At bus stops on the north side of the road, the bicycle path will run behind the bus stop and shelter.
• Additional speed cushions between Roche Court and Barkers Streets may be also needed slow vehicles close to propose bus stops where pedestrians will to cross the road to access the bus stops.
• At Belgrave Close, cyclists will also be able to travel north via Abercrombie Street to Centre Road (and on to routes in Monash) and this will be signed using road markings to assist wayfinding.
• New trees will be provided in landscaped areas.

Additional benefits

These roadworks will reduce traffic speeds and provide improved the connection to Warrigal Road for cyclists, pedestrians and non-motorised transport users. Creating a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists creates a number of health and wellbeing benefits:

• Regular passive exercise can lead to better health and a more positive mindset.
• It is also emissions-free, which helps us on our journey towards achieving Net Zero carbon emissions in Kingston, by 2030 and
• The provision of better connections between bicycle routes, may see more commuters opting to use free pedal-power over driving, which ultimately helps to reduce congestion and delays on our roads.

The functional layout is available to view and download in the 'documents' folder on this webpage.

We would love to hear your feedback on these plans to see if we have overlooked anything. Please let us know if we have this right, by:

• emailing info@kingston.vic.gov.au by 18 August 2022
• submitting any ideas to our survey, below.
• send us in a letter to PO Box 1000, Mentone VIC 3194, or
• phoning Project Manager Alex Reid on 1300 653 356.

Once we have received feedback we will move to the final detailed design stage before seeking adoption for funding from Council. We anticipate this project will be underway in 2024-25.