The issues identified near Alphington Grammar School include:

• Traffic congestion, parking and pedestrian safety issues at school drop-off and pick-up times.
• Gap selection difficult for vehicles turning right onto Heidelberg Road from Old Heidelberg Road.
• Obscured sightlines due to construction works.
• Vehicle not abiding parking restrictions (and overstaying limits).

Treatments for consideration:

• Full-time one-way operation for Old Heidelberg Road and Lucerne Crescent to support simplified traffic flow.
  • This includes one-way eastbound on Old Heidelberg Road between Heidelberg Road and Lucerne Crescent, and one-way southbound on Lucerne Crescent between Old Heidelberg Road and Constance Street.
  • Constance Street will still be two-way as per existing conditions.
  • The clockwise operation would take advantage of the existing right turn lane into Old Heidelberg Road.

A number of issues relate to vehicles overstaying parking limits. Council’s enforcement officers regularly attend the area to enforce parking restrictions.

It is noted that obscured sightlines due to construction activities will be resolved upon completion of works at the old Tower Hotel site.

While it was noted that the community were concerned regarding safety associated with current operations near Alphington Grammar School, observations noted that existing operation promotes very slow vehicle speeds.

It is noted that very few pedestrians currently cross Heidelberg Road at Old Heidelberg Road or Como Street at school arrival and departure times (based on data and observation). A high number of pedestrians walk along the southern side of Heidelberg Road to utilise the existing signals.

Benefits of the suggested treatments (Lucerne Crescent (north) and Old Heidelberg Road one-way operation (clockwise)

• Reduced complexity and confusion for drivers and pedestrians, including school buses.
• Clockwise direction utilises the existing right turn lane on Heidelberg Road.
• Provides a safer access for school children and parents walking and cycling to the school.

Other considerations

• Increase in vehicle queuing in Como Street (anticipated 50% increase in queue length at morning drop-off times, and doubling of queue length at afternoon pick-off times).
• Potential for increased traffic speeds (measures to constrain carriageway width to support very low speeds should be considered such as parking changes, painted treatments).
• Increased traffic in Constance Street & Chamouni Street.
• As part of this study, we are also suggesting left-turn only from Como Street into Heidelberg Road (at morning and afternoon peak times) to simplify traffic movements and reduce length of vehicle queues. Please refer to the treatment page using this link for more information. This suggested treatment cannot be implemented in conjunction with the above treatment as it would result in access restrictions to and from the area.

Note, no change in volumes expected during school drop-off and pick-up times (although the direction of travel will change).

• Constance Street: anticipated up to 20 additional vehicles an hour during the day and up to an additional 60 vehicles an hour during typical morning and evening peak times.
• Chamouni Street: anticipated up to 10 additional vehicles an hour during the day and up to an additional 30 vehicles an hour during typical morning and evening peak times.

Questions?

If you have questions about these suggested treatments, you can get in touch with us:

📧 Email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au

📞 Call us on 9205 5555