YANCHEP residents raised concerns about children’s safety heading back to school because a safe crossing at traffic signals was removed as part of the Marmion Avenue road works.
Karl Gibson said many children started riding or walking to the schools either side of Marmion Avenue, Yanchep Secondary College and Yanchep Lagoon Primary School, this week.
Traffic signals installed at the Marmion Avenue-Lagoon Drive and Peony Boulevard intersection in 2015 have been removed for the $23 million dual carriageway project, which is due to finish in April.
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READ NOW“Many of our kids relied on the traffic lights at the intersection of Marmion Avenue and Lagoon Drive to safety cross the road and make their way to school,” Mr Gibson said.
“The kids have been left with nowhere to safely cross the road and get to and from school safely.
“Kids need a safe place to cross not navigate barriers, dug up roads, pipes, busses, cars and road work machinery.”
A City of Wanneroo spokeswoman said the signals would be back in operation in early April, and a traffic controller would help students cross Marmion Avenue.
“Pedestrians are being directed to an alternative crossing,” she said.
“A traffic controller is helping students and parents cross Marmion Avenue for morning and afternoon peak periods as part of the project’s traffic management plan which was endorsed by Main Roads WA.
“Temporary footpaths have also been established on the eastern side of Marmion Avenue.”
The spokeswoman said intersection works started as early as possible, with Yanchep Central shopping centre management requesting they were put on hold over Christmas to accommodate its high volume of shopping traffic.
In the long-term, there are plans for crossings at Village Row, Lagoon Drive-Peony Boulevard and Morwell Street.
Mr Gibson raised the issue about safe crossing and path networks when the college opened in 2018 and at the time, the City planned to do upgrades as part of the dual carriageway work.
The Yanchep Two Rocks Alkimos Community page administrator said he was advised on Monday that the contractor would put in temporary measures, including signage, lower speed limits and a traffic controller, to help children cross in the construction area.
Despite the City previously indicating it would investigate opening the underpass north of Blackwood Meander, Mr Gibson was told concerns about anti-social behaviour meant it would not open at this stage.
The City is expected to provide the college with a map to help students cross safely until the road works finish.
Parents also raised concerns about bus shelters along Marmion Avenue, and the spokeswoman said existing shelters would be reinstalled progressively as road works finished.
She said new shelters would be installed at stops 22448 and 22449 south of Yanchep Beach Road; a new bus stop and shelter south of Broadside Drive; stop 26196 north of Shorehaven Boulevard; stop 27327 south of Romeo Road; and stops 26284 and 26285 south of Santorini Promenade.