Projects

Lara Six Ways intersection upgrade

We’re improving safety, capacity, and traffic flow at the intersection of Station Lake Road / Patullos Road and Forrest Road North / Forrest Road South (Lara Six Ways).

Project status:

Planned

What we are doing

Traffic signals and pedestrian crossings will be installed to improve access and create a safer, more predictable environment for all users of this busy intersection.

This is a significant and complex project that will be completed over multiple years.

As the project progresses, we will provide updates to community and opportunities to learn more about design features and what to expect during construction.

What to expect

This is a significant and complex project that will be completed over multiple years.

2022 - 2023

Early stages of planning for this intersection upgrade. Technical studies, heritage and environmental assessments.
Reviewing feedback received at the 2018-2019 community drop-in sessions to help inform early design plans.

2023 - 2024

We will engage with property owners, residents and businesses in the immediate area surrounding the intersection to help inform design and access requirements.
Detailed investigations will be completed to map underground services surrounding the intersection.

2024 - 2026

Final designs will be completed, and service relocation works will commence.
Construction of the traffic lights is expected to commence around 2025-2026. We will provide more information about the staging of construction once program schedules are confirmed.

Benefits

Provides safe crossing opportunities between retail, community facilities, schools, and residential areas.
Reduced congestion through central Lara improving travel time reliability to key facilities, including the Lara Train Station and the V/Line service to Geelong and Melbourne.
Promotes sustainable modes of transport encouraging walking and cycling movements with dedicated facilities reducing conflict with vehicles.
Accommodates population growth in Lara.

Background

Future traffic modelling and community feedback have confirmed the need for traffic flow improvements and road safety upgrades at the intersection of Station Lake Road / Patullos Road and Forrest Road North / Forrest Road South, known locally as the ‘Lara Six Ways’.

Traffic lights were identified as the preferred solution following technical studies and feedback received at community drop-in sessions held in 2018-2019.

The City of Greater Geelong experienced a growth rate of 2.29 per cent in 2021 and Lara will continue to play a role in accommodating this growth. The projected growth of the area shows a significant increase in traffic volumes over the next two decades with most of the growth expected to occur in the Lara West development precinct.

In the five-year period ending December 2019 there were three crashes resulting in one serious injury and two other crashes. In the months just outside the five-year period, it’s important to also recognise a collision involving the serious injury of a pedestrian on the Patullos Road approach to Lara Six Ways.