Residents of the Joseph Road apartment precinct in Footscray are demanding authorities immediately address a shortfall of road safety infrastructure at the troubled site.
Access to the Joseph Road apartments is only possible via Hopkins Street, a busy thoroughfare that acts as the gateway to Footscray, but is also considered one of inner city Melbourne’s most dangerous roads.
In a statement on February 25, the Joseph Road Precinct Action Group (JRPAG) demanded demanded traffic lights be installed at three Hopkins Street intersections regularly used by residents, including the one with Hallenstein Street, where a woman was killed in 2023.
“It was extremely distressing when a young girl was run over on Hopkins Street two years ago and a lot of people heard her screams before she died,” wrote local resident Victoria in the JRPAG statement.
“The traffic lights promised years ago still haven’t been delivered,” said Corey, another local resident who lives near the Hallenstein and Hopkins streets intersection.
“Watching people risk their lives trying to cross every day is horrifying.”
JRPAG spokesperson Rhett Warren said promises to improve safety along Hopkins Street had either not been delivered or in the case of lowering the speed limit to 40km/h, proven ineffective.
“Without proper enforcement, this change is meaningless – drivers continue to speed along Hopkins Street with little regard for pedestrians, cyclists, or residents,” said Mr Warren, who accused both the federal and state members representing the area, Fraser MP Dr Daniel Mulino and Footscray MP Katie Hall, of not doing enough.
He said Dr Mulino had failed to have Hopkins Street identified as a traffic black spot, which would trigger federal funding for upgrades.
A spokesperson for Dr Mulino said he’s recently discussed traffic concerns with Joseph Road residents, but that black spot funding was joint initiative of state and federal governments and subject to a long process.
Spokespersons for both Katie Hall and the state government blamed previous the Liberal government and former Planning Minister Matthew Guy for the problems at Joseph Road.
“Matthew Guy and the Liberals stuffed up the planning around Josephs Road – a developer free-for-all that left communities without the infrastructure they need, that we have had to fix,“ the state government spokesperson said.
Ms Hall added that the delivery of infrastructure within the Joseph Road precinct was the responsibility of Maribyrnong council.
Maribyrnong council was contacted for comment.
Cade Lucas
