General News
19 September, 2025
High-risk intersections to be upgraded
The State Government has confirmed major safety upgrades will proceed at high-risk intersections in Maryborough and Talbot thanks to the $210 million Safe Local Roads and Streets Program.
Some 200 projects across the state were announced to support councils with up to $2 million to develop, design and deliver safety upgrades on local roads, intersections and precincts.
The funding will allow local councils to deliver a range of upgrades to improve safety on local roads including pedestrian crossings, intersection upgrades and speed-calming measures.
These locations were identified in August 2024, after an independent traffic engineering consultant was appointed to review and identify which locations should be upgraded.
Avoca Road, connecting Bung Bong to Talbot has since had a speed limit reduction. The 100km/h road connecting Talbot and the Pyrenees Highway has been reduced to 80km/h. The review found there have been two casualties and one fatality recorded along this section of road in the past 10 years.
The intersection of Clarendon Street, Dundas Road and Palmerston Street, Maryborough has also had a signage island implemented and a turn ban put in place. This location had two T-intersections near each other, creating potential confusion for entering motorists.
Both intersections had site, distance and speeding issues.
The Napier Street and Brougham Street intersection was determined as a high risk for collisions, located near school zones and has been used by motorists as a bypass from the Derby Road and Pyrenees Highway intersection. The review found vehicle speeds along Napier Street also deemed the section of road high risk.
A roundabout will be implemented to minimise this risk.
The intersection of Burns Street and Nolan Street, Maryborough was flagged as confusing for motorists and pedestrians, particularly regarding the priority of traffic movements. Traffic count data showed many drivers exceed the speed limit along Burns Street, increasing the risk of accidents and creating dangers for pedestrians navigating the intersection.
Therefore, constructing a raised roundabout on all legs of the intersection or a zebra crossing on both streets has been proposed.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said the works would improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians.
“I know a lot of students who walk to school are from Highview and St Augustine’s, and making sure they have a safer walk to school is really important,” Ms Haylett said.
“This project is not just about making it safer for motorists, but for pedestrians, for parents, for families to walk their kids to school.”
Ms Haylett said the upgrades would also curb irresponsible driving and strengthen councils’ capacity to deliver improvements.
“It will help reduce hooning, but also just make our local roads safer,” she said.
“It also helps our councils to do these upgrades as well, they’re a partner in these projects.”
Road safety remains a leading concern for residents across Ripon.
“Roads are still probably the number one issue I hear about in Ripon, close to cost of living,” Ms Haylett said.
“There is a mix of things we are doing, some of them are speed reduction, some of them are islands, but each one is very place-specific, and I have had a lot of people contacting me about different ones, so there are a lot of happy drivers and walkers out there, which I want to see more of into the future.”
Local governments manage 87 percent of Victoria’s roads. The program supports the development and delivery of road safety infrastructure projects on these roads that many people use every day for travelling to school, work and around the local community.
“This program will deliver the local road upgrades our community have been calling for, improving several roads in Maryborough for motorists for years to come,” Ms Haylett said.
Further information on the program can be found at transport.vic.gov.au/news-and-resources/projects/safe-local-roads-and-streets-program.