Footpath works take shape on City Rd-Power St intersection  

A major overhaul of the notorious City Rd-Power St intersection is almost complete with the laying of bluestone paving on the expanded City Rd footpath being one of the final expected stages.  

The $3.8 million upgrade will see the footpath widened, a pedestrian crossing moved away from the busy corner and all City Rd lanes shifted over at the intersection to create more space between pedestrians and road users.  

The state government is carrying out the major upgrade after a truck hit and injured five people in a horrific incident in May 2021, prompting a community outcry. 

At the time a petition was launched calling for all heavy vehicles to be removed along the dangerous stretch of road, which is popular for accessing the nearby West Gate Freeway. 

Southbank Residents’ Association president Tony Penna has consistently maintained that while the final design “certainly goes some way” to addressing safety concerns, trucks ultimately needed to be banned from the intersection. 

The Southbank3006 residents’ group has previously said while it supported the upgrade, it had concerns with heavy vehicles using the intersection, and also feared speed would be a factor as drivers negotiated a wider turning arc onto Power St, compromising the safety of pedestrians.

Works, which started in October last year, were initially expected to finish at the end of March, but a report from VicRoads in May said in addition to laying bluestone paving on the expanded City Rd footpath, crews would finish installing permanent line marking of the pedestrian crossing (and install bollards on the southeast corner of the intersection). 

VicRoads said night works would continue on Sunday nights while the final line marking was installed, with day works to begin for the installation of bluestone paving. 

Speed reductions will be in place between 9.30am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday while workers are on site. This is to avoid reductions during the peak-hour travel times. •