Drysdale's Murradoc Road's shoulders abandoned by VicRoads?

It appears VicRoads have stopped work on sealing Murradoc Road's shoulders.

While they did a great job of rolling part of the shoulders and fixing the gravel as well as fixing some of the drains, they have not finished the work.

The Drysdale side of the big hill is a bit of a mess - the shoulders encroach over the road - part of the bitumen has disappeared.

On the St Leonards side of the hill the shoulders have just been left.

Did VicRoads not allocate enough money to finish the job?

Such a pity - it would have been great for the cyclists for summer.

Hope they come back and do what we all thought they were going to do, otherwise it is all a bit of a let down :-(

Murradoc Road's shoulders are getting sealed - finally a safer road for cyclists!

A letter arrived in the mail today from VicRoads:

Construction Works - Murradoc Road between Mortimer Street and Becks Road, Drysdale

VicRoads wishes to advise you that construction works on Murradoc Road between Mortimer Street and Becks Road, Drysdale will commence on Monday 6 May 2013.

Works will include construction of a sealed shoulder and road safety improvements in both directions of Murradoc Road.

Works will be carried out within the hours of 7am and 5pm Monday to Sunday, subject to weather and are expected to be completed by end June 2013.

Finally the shoulders will be sealed and it will be safer for cyclists.  This is a great win for everyone!

Another Cyclist Hit by a Car on Murradoc Road

Saturday morning another cyclist was hit on Murradoc Road in Drysdale - this time the driver did not stop.

Hit-run rider left for dead, by Andrea Hamblin. Geelong Advertiser, October 29th, 2012. "A Cyclist who was hit by a car on one of the Bellarine's most dangerous roads has pleaded for the public's help to find the driver who almost killed him. Andrew McKendry was riding in a 100km/h zone on Murradoc Rd, between St Leonards and Drysdale, when he was struck from behind by a passing car about 10.30am on Saturday. He said he was flung from his bike and left bleeding in a roadside ditch, screaming for help.

It has been 21 months since a cyclist was killed on Murradoc Road out side my house. That day is forever etched in my memory.

So far nothing has been done to make Murradoc Road safer for cyclists.

Murradoc Road is a Victorian government funded road - VicRoads has the responsibility to fix it.  It is not obviously high on their list of priorities.

So what price do you put on a human life - fortunately Andrew McKendry will live to ride another day. He was lucky.  What about the next person?

Drysdale still in the top 10 most dangerous roads for cyclists

Two roads in Drysdale are still ranked in the top ten roads most dangerous for cyclists on the Bellarine Peninsula.

The two roads are Murradoc Road and High Street in Drysdale.

The Geelong Advertiser published online an article entitled: "Our dangerous roads", by Tom Bennett, on January 15th, 2012.

The article details that a report has been prepared by the Bicycle Infrastructure Group called "Priorty Hazard Road Works" (Can't find a copy online).

The report identifies Murradoc Road in Drysdale requiring work to the value of $1,660,000 to make the road safer for cyclists.

Also High Street in Drysdale was identified in need or works to the value of $625,000.

Previously, Bike Safe Victoria in 2010 had identified Murradoc Road in Drysdale as hazardous to cyclists.  Then a cyclist was killed on January 2, 2011 on this stretch of road identified in serious need of dedicated bicycle lanes.

The Geelong Advertiser also reported on 16 December 2011 in an article entitled "Cycle of Support" that the Coroners Court of Victoria  had confirmed an investigation into the death of this cyclist had been broadened to include a wider review of cycling safety in the Geelong region. At that time no hearing date had been set.

On the 13th of April 2011 I received a letter from the Minister for Roads the Hon Terry Mulder MP. He too advised that a multi agency Bicycle Infrastructure Group had been formed "to consider issues associated with longer distance training and commuter cycling across municipal boundaries on the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast. The group has undertaken detailed scoping of proposals for the top ten sites considered to need improvements to bicycle infrastructure by the local Bike Safe Group.  A proposal to upgrade Murradoc Road was included as part of these proposals. Proposals for improvement projects must be considered and prioritised on a statewide basis. The proposal to upgrade Murradoc Road will be considered in this context..."

So still, we wait.

Welcome to Drysdale - the home of Geelong's Tip

I knew it was going to happen, but now that it is, does not make it any easier to welcome its arrival.

The Geelong Advertiser - has as its front page news today - The Corio Tip is closing - good news for Corio - bad news for Drysdale because....

All the garbage is now coming to the Drysdale Tip:

"From Monday, January 2, 2012, 90 per cent of Geelong's rubbish will end up at the Drysdale landfill on the Bellarine Peninsula.

It means about 30 large semi-trailer sized vehicles will be funneled through central Drysdale en route to the tip each week.

Bellarine MP Lisa Neville said the addition of those heavy vehicles into the local traffic mix might have safety implications.

"These are very busy roads, particularly during peak times," she said..."

This is probably the understatement of the year; these trucks will be coming through the main streets of Drysdale, navigating the roundabout at the pub, down Murradoc Road - past my front door on their way to the tip.

Everyone in the area knows Murradoc Road is a very narrow road. The 2nd of January will also be the anniversary of a cyclist's death outside my front gate. Now the Council wants to put more heavy vehicles on the road. This will make it even more dangerous for cyclists right in the middle of the town's peak holiday season.

And into this mix, welcome to Aldi who is opening for business right opposite the hotel on Murradoc Road. Then of course there is a big vacant block right next door ripe for another big commercial venture. So add this extra traffic with the new supermarket and traffic will increase exponentially.

Then of course trying to get to the schools in the morning and afternoons - there will be no room for anyone to move. Tempers will fray, accidents will happen.

Perhaps, the Geelong Council should consider rerouting these trucks down the Bellarine Highway and up the Portarlington Queenscliffe Road to get to the tip. That would make more sense to me. But then since when were local residents ever consulted.

Where are our local council members - why are they not making noise about this?

Welcome to Drysdale - the home of Geelong's Tip

Wheelie DAY in Drysdale on 14 October 2011

Wheelie Day is on in Drysdale on Friday 14 October. It is part of the 2011 October Jayco Herald Sun Cycling Tour Week of Activities.

The main event for families and the local community will be from 12-6pm on the Drysdale Primary School oval. Free entertainment, giveaways, live music, food, wine and local produce will be available.

The Royal Institution of Australia will present "Spin, sweat and success". Interactive hands on activities, specially designed science obstacle course, with guests presenters from the CSIRO and Deakin to talk about elite athlete physiology and nutrition and offer free samples.

Committee for Bellarine will be handing out free value show bags to the first 500 families who enter, which will also include items that promote the Bellarine.

More information is available from http://cleangreenbellarine.groupsite.com/discussion/topic/show/508836

Update 10 October 2011: Information on Drysdale road closures is available from the City of Greater Geelong website - an extract is reproduced below:

"To facilitate the safe running of the Honda Hybrid Women’s Tour Team Trial on Friday 14 October, the following temporary changed traffic conditions will be implemented:

• Geelong-Portarlington Road between Murradoc Road, Drysdale, and Batman Road, Portarlington, will be closed to vehicular traffic from approximately 11.30am until 1.30pm. All side street access onto Geelong-Portarlington Road will be restricted during these times. Detours will be in place for the closure of the Geelong-Portarlington Road. It is recommended that motorists use the detour route via Murradoc Road, Portarlington-Queenscliff Road (or vice versa) when travelling during the road closure period."

"To facilitate the safe finish of the Stage 3 Men’s Road Race on Friday 14 October, the following temporary changed traffic conditions will be implemented:

• Princess Street between Newcombe Street and the carpark to the Springdale Neighbourhood Centre, Drysdale, will be closed from approximately 10.00am to 5.00pm. Local access will be maintained at all times, with the exception of the race finish between 2.00pm and 3.00pm."

Jayco Herald Sun tour Cyclists coming to Drysdale Oct 14

The Bellarine Times (30 August 2011 issue page 7) reports that the Jayco Herald Sun Tour cyclists will be in Drysdale for the stage three finish of the road race on Friday October 14.

The Jayco tour course map is available.

The Tour route is:

Date		Stage		Location	Format
Wed 12 Oct		Stage 1		Whittlesea to Ballarat	Road Race
Thu 13 Oct		Stage 2		Ballarat to Geelong	Road Race
Fri 14 Oct		Stage 3		Geelong to Bellarine Peninsula	Road Race
Sat 15 Oct		Stage 4		Sorrento to Arthurs Seat	Road Race
Sun 16 Oct		Stage 5		Melbourne	Circuit Race

The Committee for Bellarine is organising activities around the day. Contact them for more information.

Quick action needed to make Murradoc Road safer for Cyclists

The Bellarine Times has reported today (January 18, 2011, page 11) in an article entitled: "Campaign call for action" that

"Bike Safe continues to lobby VicRoads for improved traffic conditions for cyclists in the wake of the recent death on Murradoc Road. In a letter sent to VicRoads, Bike Safe's Barton van Laar pointed out that Murradoc Road was one of the first roads identified as needing urgent attention. ... We have raised this particular road directly with local politicians. "We were heartened by the detailed scoping report VicRoads completed in December, but disheartened that it was not put up for funding for various reasons. "If we ask the question: Would a wider road with bicycle lanes have made a difference? After a group of us rode there again on Friday, we believe yes..." More of this article is available from the Bellarine Times.

Below is a letter I wrote to the editor of the Geelong Advertiser - it was published on Saturday 8 January.

THE death of a cyclist outside our home on January 2 was needless and unnecessary.

This death was an accident waiting to happen.

Murradoc Rd is a death trap for cyclists.

The road is a main thoroughfare leading to the Drysdale tip, as well as the towns of St Leonards, Portarlington, Indented Heads, Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale.

Heavy trucks including garbage trucks, cement mixers, stock transport, prime movers, cars towing boats and caravans use this road continuously every day -  and so do cyclists.

On Sunday morning, I witnessed the death of this cyclist. I saw him riding along our road and then watched him knocked into the air by a passing motorist.  It happened very quickly. 

When my husband and I ran to his aid, he barely had a pulse.

An emergency nurse was passing and quickly tried to give him CPR.
The images have  haunted me every night  when I try to sleep.

This death could have been prevented.

Murradoc Rd is a narrow bitumen road maintained by VicRoads.  It has no sealed shoulders.  The accident happened on a rise, with double lines in an 80km/h speed zone.
Cyclists regularly use this road. School children ride to school down this road. It is the fourth most dangerous road, according to Bike Safe, in the Geelong region. It is a death trap.  

The State Government needs to act.  This road needs purpose-built lanes for bicycle riders which will be attractive to them to use.

Simply throwing a bit of bitumen on the shoulders won't do - they need to be built correctly from the start and have ongoing regular maintenance.

Keeping gravel shoulders on Murradoc Rd can no longer be acceptable.  Cyclists will only ride on the bitumen.

VicRoads can do the right thing and fix this problem now, or can have front row seats at the next cyclist's funeral.

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing (Edmund Burke) - Transport Minister Terry Mulder must act.

I have also written a separate letter to Minister Terry Mulder and have yet to receive a response from the Minister.

Murradoc Road Must be Widened for Cyclist Safety

Yesterday, a cyclist was killed outside my front gate. It was a horrible tragic accident.

The Geelong Advertiser gave a very one sided view of events. They were not there. They did not see it happen. They did not interview anyone involved.

This and other tragic accidents like it could have been avoided if this road and ones like it had a dedicated cyclist lane. Murradoc Road does not have one. It is a very busy road. Garbage trucks, buses, stock trucks, cement mixers, cars towing caravans and boats use this road every day. They are very wide motor vehicles.

The accident happened in an 80 km speed zone with double lines. It is a very narrow stretch of road.

The current advertising campaign of giving cyclists a meter wide gap puts the big vehicles using this road into oncoming traffic.

What needs to happen is for a dedicated cycling lane to be added to each side of the bitumen on this road.

Perhaps the authorities responsible for road maintenance on this road may now decide the time is right to do the right thing. Then again - what price....? What value do you put on a life?

Articles from the Geelong Advertiser related to this story are available at: Bike fatality was at known blackspot and Bike tragedy hits Amy's Ride.

Murradoc Road Drysdale listed as no.4 in the top 10 most dangerous roads for cyclists

The Geelong Advertiser (Saturday 3 April 2010. p3) reported the 10 most dangerous roads for cyclists in the Geelong Region in its article: Geelong region's cycling black spots named.

A very narrow road, Drysdale's Murradoc Road was the 4th worst road as far as being dangerous for cyclists to use. The top 10 according to Bike Safe are:

• 13th Beach Rd, Barwon Heads
• Horseshoe Bend Rd, Torquay;
• Mt Duneed Rd;
• Murradoc Rd, Drysdale;
• Portarlington-Queenscliff Rd;
• Blackgate Rd, Torquay;
• Bluestone School Rd, Connewarre;
• Shell Rd, Ocean Grove;
• Moolap Station Rd east of Geelong; and
• Paraparap's Hendy Main Rd.

More information is available from the Geelong Advertiser.