Thompson Road safety improvements
Thompson Road in North Geelong will be made safer thanks to a $5 million investment through the joint funding by the Australian and Victorian governments.
Underway
Overview
We’re upgrading sections of Thompson Road in north Geelong, from Victoria Street to Separation Street, and Morgan Street to Cox Road. The project will be completed in four stages.
Update - August 2026
Stage 3 works are underway to install pedestrian refuge islands, construct raised safety platforms, relocate bus stops and improve line-marking. These works are expected to be completed in August 2026.
Stage 4 includes traffic signal works and improvements at eight locations between Cox Road and Victoria Street, and the installation of raised pedestrian crossings at The Boulevard. These works started in June, 2026 and are expected to take up to three months to complete.
Please note, dates and timeframes of these works are dependent on a range of factors, including favourable weather and site conditions.
Disruptions
We understand roadworks can be disruptive, we thank you for your patience as we deliver this important project. Please be aware of changed traffic conditions in this area.
Traffic management will include:
- reduced speed limits
- single lane closures, with two-way traffic management in place
- temporary closures and detours
- temporary traffic lights, directional signs and traffic management crews to help you move through the area
- delays of up to five minutes
- nightworks, including noise, vibration and light impacts
- on-street parking restrictions.
Stage 3 disruptions
Please be aware of the following disruptions as part of these works:
Road closures and detours
Temporary closures of side‑street access onto Thompson Road will be required for short periods at:
- Milan Street
- Sparks Road
- Thrush Street
- Thorburn Street
When required, signed detours will be provided on surrounding streets.
Nightworks – from 30 July 2026
From Thursday, 30 July to 5 August 2026, crews will be on site, between 8pm and 8am at the following locations:
- near Sparks Road – raised safety platform/line marking works
- near Thrush Street – raised safety platform/line marking works
It is expected that works at each site will be completed over two nights within the works period, with specific dates to be finalised. Works may be rescheduled pending favourable weather.
Stage 4 disruptions – from 20 July 2026
Works will be completed between June and August. Start and completion dates will vary across each site.
Thompson Road and The Boulevard
From Monday 20 July 2026, works will be underway on the Thompson Road and The Boulevard intersection upgrade to install raised pedestrian crossings and fully-controlled right turn arrows, upgrade the concrete pedestrian island, and upgrade underground infrastructure. The upgrade will take up to four weeks.
From Monday 20 July 2026, crews will be on site Monday to Friday, between 9am and 6pm. There are also three consecutive nights of works that will be undertaken during the construction period. The dates of the nightworks are to be finalised, however they will be scheduled from Sunday and Thursday, between 8pm and 5am. When confirmed, the specific dates of nightworks will be published on on-site electronic message boards.
Dates and times are subject to change due to favourable weather and site conditions.
Detours – From 20 July to 14 August 2026
To complete these works safely and efficiently, detours will be required at the Thompson Road and The Boulevard intersection for the duration of the upgrade. Signage will be in place to direct traffic on the alternate route and impacted properties have been directly advised of the detours.
The detour map is below:
Completed works
- Victoria Street/Baden Powell Road intersection: installation of fully-controlled right turn arrows.
- Separation Street intersection: installation of fully-controlled right turn arrows.
- Morgan Street intersection: installation of fully-controlled right turn arrows.
- near Sparks Road - pedestrian operated signal improvements.
- Donnybrook Road intersection: installation of new signal poles and upgrades to LED signals.
Upcoming works
- Cox Road intersection: installation of new signal poles and upgrades to LED signals.
- night detour for northbound traffic on Thompson Road, turning left and right into Cox Road.
- near Vistula Avenue - pedestrian operated signal improvements
Access
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.
What we’re doing
These safety upgrades include:
Victoria Street to Separation Street
- installing fully controlled right turns at:
- Victoria Street and Baden Powell Drive intersection
- Separation Street intersection
- installation of two pedestrian refuge islands
- at Galway Avenue
- between Castle Court and Vistula Avenue
- installation of three raised safety platforms
- between Walsh Grove and Kendra Street
- between Galway Avenue and Castle Court
- between Vistula Avenue and Thorburn Street
- relocation of two bus stops between Thorburn Street and Milan Street to allow for traffic lane changes
- upgrades to the pedestrian operated signals near Vistula Avenue
- line-marking changes to create a single lane in each direction from Thorburn Street to Separation Street, and provide a right turn lane into Milan Street.
View a larger version of the map
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
- between Kelly Court and The Boulevard
- between Gull Street and Elmore Street
- Installation of four raised safety platforms
- between Kentucky Avenue and Reserve Road
- approximately five metres north of Narooma Street
- between Sparks Road and Darebin Street
- approximately five metres south of Thrush Street
- Installation of raised pedestrian crossings at The Boulevard
- Minor upgrades at the pedestrian operated signals near Sparks Road
- Installation of traffic signal poles and upgraded LED lighting at Donnybrook Road and Cox Road intersections
View a larger version of the map
Completed works
- Completed 2019
- Between Separation Street and Morgan Street: reduced the number of lanes from two to one in each direction and installed a wide painted centre median with turning arrows, to reduce the likelihood and severity of crashes in this busy commercial zone.
- Completed 2024
- Stage 1 (between Victoria Street and Separation Street): line-marking changes to create a single lane in each direction and right-turn lanes into some side streets
- Completed 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.
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).
Funding
These upgrades are delivered by the Australian and Victorian Government as part of the Targeted Road Safety Program, in partnership with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC). The Australian Government is contributing $4.02 million, with the Victorian Government providing $0.98 million.