Baldivis intersection safety works set as short-term fix

After weeks of calls for action to address a notorious Baldivis blackspot, the City of Rockingham and Main Roads have agreed on safety works.

A man in his 20s died on May 1 when his motorbike and a car collided at the intersection of Eighty and Sixty Eight roads in Baldivis.

The front page of the following edition of the Sound Telegraph highlighted the high crash history of the intersection, which included the death of a 45-year-old woman in July 2018.

A petition launched soon after by the board of the nearby Mother Teresa Catholic College School and the school’s Parents and Friends’ Association called for upgrades and accumulated more than 1600 signatures.

Baldivis MLA Reece Whitby recently held a site meeting at the intersection with representatives from Main Roads WA and City of Rockingham revealing safety improvements last week.

The devices, known as plateaus, will be installed to ensure motorists slow down on approach.

Mr Whitby said the physical safety plateaus were designed to make motorists slow down and have more time to see the stop signs.

“The plateaus will be raised sections of Eighty Road located on the approach to the stop signs on either side of Sixty Eight Road,” he said.

“Main Roads also advised that reflective black on yellow chevron alignment markers and cats eyes will be installed to improve the legibility of the curve on Sixty Eight Road both day and night.

“Main Roads will also investigate additional safety improvements on Eighty Road by assessing the placement of signage.”

Mr Whitby thanked local residents who had raised the issue.

Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said the City was responsible for the interim works.

“The City has begun the process of assessment and design for the interim works, however, any work the City carries out will ultimately require approval from Main Roads,” Cr Sammels said.

“Given these factors, costings and the timing of construction are yet to be established.

“The interim works are separate to the permanent upgrades which will be undertaken by the developer to extend Nairn Drive and construct a new intersection. The timing of permanent work is subject to the developer, (Parkland Heights), which remains responsible for design and construction.”