By Helena Adeloju
Pakenham residents have taken to social media to vent their frustration over new line markings at a Pakenham intersection which are “confusing” local drivers.
The lane markings were updated at the intersection of McGregor Road and the Princes Highway earlier this year.
There are now two lanes for drivers turning from McGregor Road onto the Princes Highway, although the upgraded arrows marked on the road also permit drivers to continue straight ahead along McGregor Road.
Local road users say the current confusion is causing near-misses because there are no complementary signs that make the new lane markings clear for drivers.
Pakenham resident Karen Muntz contacted the Gazette to raise her concerns about the intersection. She said she had “nearly been collected twice”.
One of her worries is that the intersection is “particularly dangerous during school times”.
Grace Irvine posted on the Pakenham Crime and Theft (Australia) Facebook page after a near-accident while using the new turning lane. The incident saw her berated in front of her children by another driver who believed the intersection only had one turning lane.
New Pakenham resident Brooke Spinks hates the McGregor Road-Princes Highway intersection, describing it as “so confusing”.
A number of residents have criticised Cardinia Council for the lack of signage to alert drivers to the changes at the busy intersection and point them in the right direction.
Cardinia Council issued a statement saying the “works were completed by VicRoads”.
VicRoads responded to the Gazette’s inquiry about the changes to the intersection in a statement.
“Earlier this year we completed a safety upgrade of the Princes Highway and McGregor Road intersection,” the statement said.
“As always, VicRoads will take the community’s feedback on board and investigate whether any further improvements are required to help people with the new line marking.”
Local resident Trish Mariny said the McGregor Road and Webster Way intersection was another accident hotspot.
“It’s got the same problem as the McGregor Road-Princes Highway intersection,” she said.
Ms Mariny’s 80-year-old father, who is a resident of Shanagolden Village, had the “first accident in his life” last week, when a vehicle beside his collided with his vehicle as they moved through the intersection.
She said the lane marking changes in the “last six months” were puzzling, with one of the two lanes permitting the driver to turn left, right or continue straight ahead.
Ms Mariny said the issue was amplified when the traffic was heavy.
“When all the cars are banked up people can’t see the markings on the road,” she said.
“I just think it needs to be made really clear,” she said. “The council needs to put in signs that show which lanes are meant to go in which direction.”
