The traffic lights in front of the Shepparton Art Museum are yet to be switched on, more than a year since they were first installed and approaching three months since the new attraction opened.
The hold-up involves rail and transport authorities, as well as Greater Shepparton City Council, according to Department of Transport Hume regional director Steve Bowmaker.
“Making the traffic lights operational is complex due to co-ordination with the nearby rail crossing, and we will continue to work with Greater Shepparton City Council and the rail authorities to progress this matter,” Mr Bowmaker said.
Council did not respond to questions about the outstanding issue on February 2, other than to direct The News to contact V/Line or Regional Roads Victoria.
The lights were first installed in late 2020 at the Goulburn Valley Hwy intersection with Fitzjohn, Hassett and MacIntosh streets, as part of the Shepparton Art Museum development, funded by council.
Information supplied by the Department of Transport says work with rail authorities is continuing to ensure both the rail and traffic signalling systems align, taking into account works across the north-east region as part of the Shepparton Line Upgrade.
The work-in-progress will upgrade the technology used to detect trains approaching the Goulburn Valley Hwy as part of upgrades to more than 50 other level crossings between Donnybrook and Shepparton.
This is intended to improve safety for train passengers and road users.
The upgrades will affect the way the crossing interacts with the traffic signals.
Discussions are under way between Rail Projects Victoria and council to identify interim and long-term solutions to the traffic light activation as part of stage two and stage three of the rail upgrade works, the Department of Transport advised.
During the past five years there have been two accidents, causing minor injuries, at the intersection of the Goulburn Valley Hwy and Hassett St/Macintosh St.
No collisions or near misses have been reported involving road vehicles at the level crossing in the past five years.
Stage two of the Shepparton Line Upgrade is delivering the infrastructure required to enable modern and reliable VLocity trains to travel to and from Shepparton for the first time and is targeted for completion in late 2022.
Work is also under way on stage three of the Shepparton Line Upgrade to enable nine return weekday services and faster journeys, which is targeted for completion in late 2023.