Footscray school communities have welcomed plans to introduce new school speed zones on busy Geelong Road.
The speed limit on the major road will be reduced outside Footscray Primary School from 70km/h to 40km/h between 8am and 9.30am and 2.30pm to 4pm on school days, in keeping with zones outside most other schools.
A $150,000 upgrade will fund four electronic variable speed limit signs as well as permanent and advanced warning signs.
The new zones will make getting to and from school safer for hundreds of students at Footscray Primary School and Gilmore College for Girls.
VicRoads will also review the green- light scheduling at nearby crossings to ensure children have time to cross the road safely.
Footscray Primary principal Philip Fox said the school had campaigned for some time for the reduction. “It’s been a bit of a community process that has led to this,” he said.
In the five years to last December, there were 12 crashes recorded between Ann and Malden streets, including five serious injuries and two involving pedestrians.
Footscray MP Marsha Thomson said the new speed zone is due to be in place by next June.
“This section of Geelong Road carries around 2500 vehicles an hour during the day,” she said.
Benjamin Millar
