VICROADS has not ruled out lowering the 70 kilometre an hour speed limits on Warrnambool’s main thoroughfare through Raglan Parade.
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The authority has already abolished many 70km/h and 90km/h zones across the region as part of a statewide review announced by Premier Denis Napthine and Roads Minister Terry Mulder earlier this year to simplify the system.
In some instances 70km/h zones went to 80km/h and in others they went down to 60km/h as happened in Panmure last month.
The 90km/h zone at the eastern end of Raglan Parade was recently dropped to 70km/h in keeping with the rest of the route, but there is uncertainty whether further changes will follow.
VicRoads south-west manager William Tieppo did not hose down speculation when he told The Standard this week all 90km/h and 70km/h zones across the state, including Raglan Parade, were gradually being reviewed.
“A key outcome of the speed limit review was to reduce the number of changes to speed limits along sections of road, making it less confusing for motorists,” he said.
The city council said yesterday it was awaiting word from VicRoads on the issue and also a time schedule for installation of new traffic lights at Rooneys Road and Dennington.
Other south-west locations where the 70km/h limits were listed for reduction to 60km/h are: Hopkins Highway between Whites and Wangoom roads; Caramut Road through Mailors Flat, Winslow and Caramut; Hamilton Highway through Caramut, south of Leman Street in Woolsthorpe, Narrawong and Merino.
However, two other sections of Woolsthorpe, north of Leman Street and the township section of Caramut Road had the 70km/h limit bumped up to 80 while at least two locations, Portland North and Wannon, had the 90km/h zones dropped to 80 km/h.
Mr Mulder said earlier this year changes would be introduced only after a “thorough review of the road including surrounding land use, design of the road and the crash record”.
He said reduction in speed limit changes would not come at the expense of safety.
There have been calls in recent years within some sectors of the Warrnambool community for sections of Raglan Parade near the CBD to have speed reductions for improved pedestrian safety.
Meanwhile, Southern Grampians Shire Council this week upgraded the road surface on the Hamilton CBD roundabout intersection of Lonsdale and Brown streets.