Footscray residents and Maribyrnong council have welcomed the reduction of the speed limit on Hopkins Street, but say the government needs to take further action to improve safety in the area.
On July 7, Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne announced the state government would reduce the speed limit on Hopkins Street, between Moore Street and Hopetoun Bridge, from 60km/h to 40km/h from July 8.
The government has also reduced the speed on nearby Dynon Road, between Kensington Road and just east of Dock Link Road, to 60km/h.
There have been 31 reported crashes, one fatality and 10 serious injuries recorded on Hopkins Street and Dynon Road in the past five years, the government said.
The speed reduction announcement followed council advocacy on the speed limit on Hopkins Street and a petition from the Joseph Road Precinct Action Group (JRPAG) calling for the change.
As reported by Star Weekly, the JRPAG has been lobbying for safety improvements in the precinct, which includes Hopkins Street and Hallenstein Street.
Last November, Footscray resident Frances Ramirez died while walking at the intersection of Hallenstein Street and Hopkins Street.
JRPAG leader Samantha Meredith said the group was continue to advocate for Hopkins Street to be fixed, with the pathway widened and a connecting bike lane added.
“We don’t want to lose another community member; we’ve had so many near misses here,” Ms Meredith said.
Council said it would continue to advocate for traffic lights at the Hopkins Street- Hallenstein Street intersection and the Hopkins Street-Joseph Road intersection.
Mayor Cuc Lam said the council was pleased the speed reduction had been implemented.
“This is a big step in addressing safety concerns in the area – we know the community has been asking for this change and we are pleased to see this vitally-important improvement become a reality. Council formally wrote to the minister for roads and road safety in January this year advocating for this change, and this is a welcome outcome,” she said.
