As part of the Federal Government’s Black Spot Program, road safety improvement works will be undertaken along Cowes-Rhyll Road from Thompson Avenue to Coghlan Road, in Cowes.
Work will get underway this Monday, 7 October and is expected to be completed by early November, subject to contractor availability and weather conditions. This $780,000 project is funded by the Federal Government and is being completed as part of Bass Coast Shire Council’s 2018/19 Black Spot Funding Program.
Black Spot projects target locations where crashes are occurring, with an emphasis on reducing the number and severity of crashes in those areas.
To meet the desired road improvements for the Black Spot project, some vegetation clearing and trimming is required to improve sightlines for intersecting streets, road widening, drainage works and guardrail installation.
Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Brett Tessari said a lot of work has been done to ensure the design for the project avoids or minimises the loss of vegetation where possible and that tree protection measures will be in place.
“It is difficult to balance the natural and built environments to meet road safety improvements when native vegetation is located within the road reserve,” Cr Tessari said.
Under the exemption process for Black Spot projects, no planning permit was required for this work, however all necessary approvals from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning have been acquired, which require all vegetation loss to be offset and secured.
As part of the project, the road will be widened, which will include earthworks, drainage and asphalting works, from Thompson Avenue to Jeury Court.
Guardrails will be installed between Thompson Avenue and Redwood Drive and the street lighting at the intersection of Redwood Drive and Cowes-Rhyll Road will be upgraded. The installation of signage and linemarking will also be completed as part of the project.
Work will be carried out between 7.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday (unless otherwise advised) and traffic control measures will be in place including electronic messaging signs, reduced speed limits and lane closures, as required. Road users may experience minor delays throughout the duration of works. The works will be programmed to avoid any traffic issues during the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and peak school hours in the mornings and afternoons.
These works may cause inconvenience, so the contractor will make every effort to minimise disruptions to motorists, residents, schools and businesses that operate along this section of road. If practical, road users may wish to seek alternate routes during the construction period.
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