VicRoads denies scrapping MP’s promise

– Tania Martin
VICROADS has denied making an election promise backflip for a pedestrian crossing in Mt Evelyn.
The Mail last week reported that $450,000 promised for pedestrian lights and crossing at the intersection of Wray Crescent and York Road had been suspended.
In June last year the then Labor sitting member of Mt Evelyn, Heather McTaggart, announced the funding as part of a pre-election promise.
Ms McTaggart lost her seat to Liberal candidate Christine Fyffe and the funds for the lights were suspended.
After numerous attempts to establish the progress of the project, the current Evelyn MP, Christine Fyffe, was told it was not going ahead.
However VicRoads said the funding was never for pedestrian lights but was set aside to build a safe crossing for Warburton Trail users.
VicRoads regional director Steve Brown said the crossing project was put on hold when the Shire of Yarra Ranges received Federal funding for intersection lights just 30 metres away from the proposed crossing on York Road.
Mr Brown said that VicRoads would work with the council to make sure its intersection project has the intended safety benefits for trail users by putting in place measures that will encourage pedestrians and cyclists to walk 30 metres down the road to use the crossing.
“VicRoads will fund this aspect of the project out of the $450,000 originally set aside for the York Road Warburton trail crossing,” he said.
“The remainder of the funds will be used to improve pedestrian and cycle safety in other priority areas of the shire.”
But Ms Fyffe said the money should stay in Mt Evelyn and even if it is not spent on the crossing it should go towards upgrading other areas in the town.