A range of safety improvements are about to get underway in the bustling Croydon activity centre to boost safety for  pedestrians.

Member for Eastern Metropolitan Region Shaun Leane today announced $624,000 to install a raised crossing at the roundabout at Coolstore Road and create a new median strip on Main Street between Devon Street and Lacey Street.

The existing zebra crossings on Main Street, Devon Street and Hewish road will be converted to raised zebra crossings to encourage drivers to slow down and help pedestrians cross safely.

There will also be improved line markings along Mt Dandenong Road between Main Street and Dorset Road to define traffic lanes more clearly.

52 crashes were recorded in the Croydon activity centre between 2011 and 2015, 14 of these crashes involved pedestrians.

The City of Maroondah collected feedback from the local community and found there was broad support for the proposed safety improvements.

The vital safety works are part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $100 million Safer Cyclists and Pedestrians Fund, created to keep some of our most vulnerable road users safer on our roads.

The funding comes as part of Victoria’s $1.1 billion ‘Towards Zero’ strategy, a joint plan between VicRoads and the TAC to reduce the number of lives lost on our roads to 200 or fewer and serious injuries by 15 per cent by 2020.

Works are expected to begin later this month and be complete by the end of 2018.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Metropolitan Region Shaun Leane

“These vital upgrades will boost safety for some of our most vulnerable road users and help make Croydon a safer place to be.”

“We’re investing in safety improvements in Croydon and across Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs so that pedestrians and cyclists feel safe sharing or crossing the road.”

“These works in Croydon will significantly improve connections for pedestrians and cyclists, helping them safely get between activity centres and the wider transport network.”