Construction work to upgrade and signalise the intersection of Graham St and Numurkah Rd will finally start in late March after years of it being promised.
In 2022, then Roads Minister Ben Carroll allocated $700,000 to the intersection upgrade.
This was followed by the provision of $2.2 million of Commonwealth funding in May 2024.
However, almost two years have passed since then without construction starting.
State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has continuously advocated for urgent action to upgrade this intersection, bringing it up seven times in parliament over the years, pressuring the Victorian Government to fulfil its promise and complete the signalisation of the intersection.
In parliament in February, Ms Lovell slammed the Victorian Government for its constant delays.
“Turning in and out of Graham St is risky, and it is absolutely vital for the safe movement of ambulances and other traffic that this intersection is upgraded and signalised as soon as possible,” she said in parliament on that occasion.
After her most recent questions, Ms Lovell said Roads Minister Melissa Horne had replied that she had awarded a contract for the project and promised to “commence construction in late March or early April, pending weather conditions”.
Ms Lovell said the upgrades were needed for safety in the area.
“Traffic lights and other safety upgrades are long overdue for the … intersection, which provides access for ambulances and visitors going to the hospital, and is a traffic thoroughfare for a large residential area,” she said.
In answering the question, Ms Horne said another Shepparton intersection would also have traffic lights installed soon.
Work on the new lights at the intersection of Wyndham St and Hayes St would start soon after the Graham St works.
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