Projects

Thompson Road safety improvements

Thompson Road will be made safer thanks to a $4.6 million investment through the joint Victorian and Australian governments' Targeted Safer Road Safety Works program.

Project status:

Underway

Update - August 2024

The project will be completed in stages. Stage 1 line marking between Victoria Street and Separation Street is complete.

Stage 2 of line marking, between Morgan Street and Cox Road, is expected to begin in the second half of 2024.

What we’re doing

We’re upgrading sections of Thompson Road in north Geelong, from Victoria Street to Separation Street, and Morgan Street to Cox Road. These safety upgrades include:

Line-marking changes to create a single lane in each direction, a painted wide centre media with turning provisions (similar to the arrangement between Separation Street and Morgan Street) and target formalised parking.
Victoria Street to Separation Street
- Installing fully controlled right turns at the Victoria Street and Baden Powell Drive intersection
- Installation of two pedestrian refuge islands
- Installation of three raised safety platforms
- Relocation of two bus stops between Thorburn Street and Milan Street to allow for traffic lane changes
Morgan Street to Cox Road
- Installing fully controlled right turns at:
- Thompson Road on to Morgan Street
- Thompson Road on to The Boulevard
- Installation of two pedestrian refuge islands
- Installation of four raised safety platforms

Victoria Street to Separation Street safety upgrades

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Morgan Street to Cox Road safety upgrades

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Project stages

The first stage of works was completed in 2024.

Stage 1 (between Victoria Street and Separation Street): line-marking changes to create a single lane in each direction and right-turn lanes in to some side streets

The remaining stages of works will be delivered in 2024 and 2025:

Stage 2 (between Morgan Street and Cox Rd): line-marking changes, similar to Stage 1, including a painted wide centre median with turning provisions in the industrial area.
Stage 3 (between Victoria Street and Separation Street and Morgan Street and Cox Road): installation of pedestrian refuge islands and raised safety platforms. Bus stop relocation.
Stage 4 (intersection improvements at Victoria Street, Morgan Street and The Boulevard): installation of fully-controlled right turn arrows at traffic signals.

Disruptions

Please be aware of changed traffic conditions in this area during the project.

Traffic management for Stage 2 will include reduced speed limits to protect the safety of crews and road users. Road users are encouraged to plan their journey to minimise disruptions.

When works are underway, crews will be on site from Monday to Friday, between 7am and 5pm, with the possibility of some weekend and night works.

Please note dates and timeframes of these works are dependent on a range of factors, including favourable weather and site conditions.

Every effort will be made to minimise impacts to residents, businesses and the wider community during the project.

While access to residential properties and businesses will be retained, there will be periods of disruption to local roads and traffic flow.

The contractor will contact impacted residents directly should access be disrupted.

Benefits

By introducing a single lane in each direction, applying a painted centre median and dedicated turning lanes, upgrading traffic lighting and improving access for pedestrians, these safety measures will:

reduce the risk and severity of crashes
provide safer turning opportunities for traffic
improve delineation of road environment for drivers
provide safer crossing points for pedestrians
increase liveability for residents in Norlane, North Geelong and Bell Park, with better controlled speed and a safer driver and pedestrian environment.

Background

Thompson Road is a 5km arterial road used by approximately 16,000 vehicles a day. It serves a growing commercial precinct and two residential zones and is also an important bus corridor.

The road has a high number of access points, including side roads, crossroads, managed intersections and commercial and residential driveways.

In the five years between January 2019 to December 2023, there have been 68 crashes between Victoria Street and Cox Road, including five fatal crashes and 34 serious injury crashes.

The road has minimal opportunities for vehicles to safely turn right and limited places for pedestrians to safely cross the road.

Speed is also a critical safety issue, demonstrated through our own investigations as well as feedback from residents, drivers and Victoria Police.

A seven-day analysis of speed carried out in 2017 showed maximum speeds recorded every hour ranged between 70km/h and 130km/h (more than double the posted speed limit).

Completed works

In 2019, we completed a safety treatment on Thompson Road between Separation Street and Morgan Street to address an emerging pattern of serious crashes.

By reducing the number of lanes from two to one in each direction and installing a wide painted centre median with turning arrows, the changes helped to reduce the likelihood and severity of crashes in this busy commercial zone.

Funding

These upgrades are being delivered by Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), in partnership with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).

Frequently asked questions

What are raised safety platforms?

Raised safety platforms resemble speed humps installed on some local roads, but are longer, lower and smoother so drivers don’t have to brake and accelerate hard as they approach and exit.

They are designed so drivers will slow down as they pass through sections of road or entering intersections where speed compliance has previously been an issue.