15 September 2021

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Council has been successful in obtaining $1.799M under the federal government funded Blackspot Project to provide a safer pedestrian and cycling environment on Mason Street between Millers Road and Melbourne Road in Altona North and Newport.

In August 2020 Council undertook consultation on a concept plan to improve cycling and pedestrian infrastructure along Mason Street. You can view the ‘What We Heard’ document in the document library to the right or through the ‘What We Heard’ tab below. Overall, the feedback was supportive of the works and Council’s suggested approach. We also received some great insights and suggestions on how we can further improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists on Mason Street. We have incorporated your feedback into the final project plans.

You can view these plans here.

In addition to upgrading roundabouts and introducing dedicated bike lanes, a number of initiatives were identified from community feedback and have been included in these final plans, including:

• upgrading the pedestrian crossing between Mirls and Schutt Streets from flashing lights to a signalised pedestrian crossing
• constructing speed cushions at the existing school crossing between Jack and Elizabeth Streets
• constructing kerb ramps along the footpath at Laurie and Challis Streets to improve pedestrian connectivity to Newport Lakes

To achieve these safety improvements there will be some impacts to driveways and on street parking conditions along Mason Street. These include the:

• modification of three driveways on Mason Street. These driveway modifications will be minor and will not restrict vehicle access. Impacted residents will receive direct communication from Council prior to any works commencing.

• loss of two spaces in front of 68 Fifth Avenue, Altona north
• loss of four spaces on the southern side of Mason Street, west of McIntosh Road
• loss of three spaces in front of St Leo the Great Catholic Church

We would like to thank everyone who took the time to contribute and express interest in improving safety for all users along Mason Street. This engagement process commenced on 20 August 2020 and ran through to the 23 September 2020. 1,772 people visited the project page during this consultation period and 99 contributions to the project.

The key messages and actions that we heard from the community include:

• There needs to be better warning signs near the existing zebra crossings.
• There needs to be more focus on pedestrian safety within Mason Street and more pedestrian crossing points along all sections of the road.
• While the majority of respondents supported the reduction of speed limit along Mason Street there is also some concern that this speed reduction will impact on peoples travel times.
• There are concerns that the bike lanes still disappear at the roundabouts making cycling through roundabouts difficult and potentially dangerous.
• There are concerns that vehicles approach too fast and don’t slow down when travelling through the roundabouts, with the suggestion of raising the intersections.
• There are concerns about the visibility of oncoming traffic getting onto Mason Street from side roads, with a particular issue of the signage for Newport Lakes in the median strip impeding site lines.
• There are concerns that the traffic calming treatments don’t go far enough to address the safety concerns.
• The Challis Street intersection needs to be addressed in a similar way to the proposed intersection at Jack Street.
• The school / pedestrian crossings at Jack Street, Hansen Street and Schutt Street need to be addressed.
• There needs to be consideration of separating or protecting the bike lanes on Mason Street roundabouts.
• The paths of travel to the local schools within the area need to be addressed.
• More planning around pedestrian movement within the Newport shopping precinct is needed.

What traffic changes are included in the concept plan?

The proposed scope of work is as follows:

• upgrade of existing school crossing on Mason Street between Fourth and Third Avenue to a zebra pedestrian crossing with Flashing lights for improved pedestrian safety.
• reduction of the speed limit on Mason Street from 60km/hr to 50km/hr between Millers Road and William Street
• installation of electronic 40km/hr speed signs on Mason Street through the Newport shopping precinct
• construction of new C Roundabout at the Fifth Avenue and Mason Street intersection, and modification of existing roundabouts at the following intersections:
  • McIntosh Road and Mason Street
  • Blenheim Road and Mason Street
  • Mason Street and Maddox Road
• construction of two raised pedestrian crossings on McIntosh Road near the Mason Street intersection

The proposed traffic treatment map below details the locations and treatments proposed along Mason Street, Newport.

What are the benefits of the proposed traffic changes?

The concept plan seeks to introduce road safety treatments that will address the issues along Mason Street and reduce the likelihood and severity of crashed occurring.

The proposed C-roundabouts will create an irregular central island to slow down vehicles as they manoeuvre through the island and the reduction in the speed limit will reduce the severity of crashes as they occur. The plan also aims to promote cycling as an alternate mode of transport by provide safer bicycle facilities along Mason Street and importantly improve pedestrian safety.

What are C Roundabouts?

The C-Roundabout is a modified roundabout design that consists of a central island of an irregular shape. The implementation of C Roundabouts will result in reduced speeds at these key intersections providing increased safety to pedestrians and cyclists. Research shows that this type of roundabout significantly decreases the change of a fatality occurring.

Figure 1: Tangential roundabout (left) and C-roundabout (right)