Cyclists, pedestrians and drivers in Braybrook, Maidstone and Maribyrnong will benefit from a safer road environment following the introduction of reduced speed limits on many council roads.
The move is part of the Safer Local Roads program, implemented by Maribyrnong council with support from the Department of Transport.
As part of the program, speed limits will be reduced from 50km/h to 40km/h on residential roads, and from 60km/h to 50km/h on collector roads such as some sections of Mitchell, Rosamond and Williamson roads.
The program will also include the continuation of 40km/h school zones during school hours.
Council said the changes are the fifth and final stage of a program to bring the quantum of council-owned roads with lowered speed limits within the municipality to 93 per cent.
The five-year program was fuelled by the results from Local Area Traffic Management (LATM) studies and feedback from residents around safety concerns when walking or cycling in their local streets, and was initially endorsed by council in October 2017.
Traffic studies in Yarraville and Seddon in 2019 confirm the success of the speed reduction in keeping road users (pedestrians, cyclists and drivers) safe, with a 60 per decrease in reported casualty crashes in these areas since the lower speed limits were introduced, council said.
Council will be installing the new speed limit signs over six to eight weeks starting. Once installed, the new 40km/h speed limits become enforceable by Victoria Police.
Mayor Michael Clarke said: “Ensuring all road users – pedestrians, cyclists and drivers – are safe when out and about on and near our roads is incredibly important”.
