Speed humps placed over polka dots at Yarraville

Michael Clarke painting one of the polka dots on the road two weeks ago. (Supplied) 231918_01

Goya Dmytryshchak

Maribyrnong council has installed six temporary speed cushions over giant polka dots painted on the road at Yarraville Village after a community outcry.

As reported by Star Weekly, the council last month painted giant colorful dots at three locations to make drivers slow down but instead children were drawn to the dots and started playing on the road. A petition signed by more than 450 people is calling on the council to remove the dots “before a child fatality happens”.

The dots are at three locations: the corner of Ballarat and Anderson streets, Ballarat and Canterbury streets and at the bend of Anderson Street with Willis Street.

The council has also applied to the Department of Transport to turn the intersection of Ballarat and Canterbury streets into a shared zone where pedestrians would have priority, and to reduce the speed limit to 20 km/h.

Mayor Michael Clarke said the council had listened to concerns raised by local residents, community members and the recommendations of an independent road safety audit.

“We want all road users to feel safe on and around our roads which is why we’re installing temporary speed cushions at each of these locations,” he said.