Warrnambool residents want 'city's worst intersection' upgraded before fatality

Mrs Grayson, who has lived near the Botanic Road and Fitzroy Road intersection which crosses Raglan Parade for 25 years with her husband Jim, said she had lost count.

"There's near misses all day, every day," she said.

Mrs Grayson said she and her husband had heard and attended the scene of numerous accidents over the years.

"We're always worrying someone will be seriously injured or killed," she said.

Mrs Grayson said calls for upgrades of the intersection over the years had fallen on deaf ears.

"Drivers are confused by it, that's the problem," she said.

Mrs Grayson said blocking off access to Raglan Parade from Fitzroy Road may help.

"We think that's a simple solution," she said.

"We've been asking for something to be done for a very long time."

Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell has been campaigning for safety improvements at the intersection for several years.

She said she was concerned about motorists and school students crossing the road.

"These are our children who use the intersection frequently," she said. "It sends a shiver up my spine to hear about near misses involving young people."

Ms Britnell said safety upgrades were also needed in north Warrnambool, with increased traffic making the Mortlake Road roundabout and nearby intersections dangerous at times.

"These are critical areas that I have raised with the council and the state government," she said.

Ms Britnell said the response had been that upgrades were on the agenda.

"The time for talk is over," she said. "What's the plan and what's the timeline?"

Ms Britnell said she was also concerned by poor lighting on Banyan Street, where an elderly pedestrian was hit and killed recently.

"It's hard to see at a number of intersections in that area, which are poorly lit and difficult to navigate."

Former Warrnambool City councillor Michael Neoh previously called for a slip lane at the Mortlake Road roundabout to make turning left into Moore Street easier.

He said solutions for the intersection needed to be investigated.

"It's in the realm of the new council to do some traffic studies into that intersection and a number of intersections on the highway," Mr Neoh said.

A response from the Warrnambool City Council on whether an upgrade to the Mortlake Road roundabout is on the agenda has been sought.

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