Infamous intersection set for safety upgrade

Roadworks ahead: Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum at the notorious intersection of Katandra Main and Labuan Rds. Photo by Morgan Dyer
The works: A map of where the roadworks will be.

The notorious intersection of Labuan and Katandra Main Rds, Katandra West, is set to receive a safety upgrade.

Since 2014, there have been multiple car accidents and resulting in severe injuries, hospitalisations and death, prompting investments in smaller-scale safety projects.

Katandra’s Jayne Walters was seriously injured in a two-car collision at the intersection five years ago.

Ms Walters suffered a fractured spine, broken ribs and hip, a dislocated knee, vision loss and two bleeds on her brain.

‘‘I have four holes in my forehead that remind me every day of what I have gone through,’’ Ms Walters told The News last year.

‘‘Still to this day I have seen dozens of people go straight through that road.“

‘‘I would hate to think that anyone else’s family has to suffer like my family has.“

‘‘But an accident also affects the entire community — so if that doesn’t have to happen again that would be fantastic.’’

Roadworks are planned to start early February 2022 with planned completion in late May 2022.

The roadworks are funded by the Federal Government’s Black Spot Program and construction will be done by Mawson Constructions.

Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum said the government was working with local councils to make country roads safer.

‘‘If you just let councils have full responsibility of keeping our roads up-to-date, then they are never going to have enough money,’’ he said.

‘‘It also enables councils to find and focus on priority projects in their area and puts Federal Government money into local problems.’’

Preliminary works will start in February before construction works to Labuan Rd north, Katandra Main Rd and Labuan Rd south.

There will be changed conditions throughout the duration of the works and traffic controls will be in place.

Katandra Main Rd will be subject to partial lane closures, with temporary traffic lights in place to allow one-way traffic to move through the intersection during construction works.

Road closures will also be in place along Labuan Rd north and south.

Working hours will be between 7am and 6pm weekdays; and 7am and 1pm Saturdays, when required.

For further information contact the Greater Shepparton City Council’s projects department on 5832 9700 or email projects@shepparton.vic.gov.au