The campaign for action at Denny Avenue has stepped up with both state and federal members for the area raising the issue with the state government.
Member for Armadale Tony Buti started a petition to present to parliament requesting the state government address the traffic issues at the intersection with an underpass for traffic in response to Examiner articles highlighting the matter.
He also sent a letter to Transport Minister Dean Nalder urging him to visit the road when cabinet meets in Armadale on March 30.
Mr Buti said it was time the state government seriously looked at solutions to reduce the high number of accidents on the road.
Federal Member for Canning Don Randall also urged Mr Nalder to ‘once and for all adequately address this issue’ in federal parliament this month.
Mr Randall said when he first became member for the area in 2001 it was an issue but previous ministers including former member for Armadale Alannah MacTiernan failed to get anything done.
“Sadly there’s going to have to be a lot more dissipation in terms of deaths or accidents before they act and that will happen because it’s going to become more congested all the time,” he said.
A $55 million underpass at Davis Road and closure of the Denny Avenue level crossing was pinned as the best solution to the issues but since 2009 the project had stalled.
The City of Armadale will install another set of traffic lights at the Streich Avenue–Denny Avenue intersection in December.
Businesses opposite the road said they regularly saw accidents and avoided using it if possible.
Jet Cycles owner Steve Manook said he had seen an ambulance have an accident with another car and a child driven over.
“They could do something to tidy it up and they tell us they’re going to do it but nothing ever happens,” he said.
“Kelmscott is 10 times busier than it was 10 years ago, the traffic flow through here is phenomenal compared to before and with the Spud Shed and the other businesses growing and the area growing they haven’t accommodated for it right.”
Flooring Xtra manager Graeme Roney said there would be less accidents if drivers had a little bit more patience.
Raine and Horne principal Will Trainer said a fixed camera or more police attention would reduce incidents at the Albany Highway–Denny Avenue intersection.
A community driven online petition requesting the City of Armadale fix the road by Camillo resident Laura Shockthorap had gained more than 300 signatures.
Minister for Planning John Day did not say whether he would visit the road on his visit to Armadale on March 30.
He said he assumed the City of Armadale would raise the matter with the state government on the day.
Mr Nalder did not respond before deadline.
To sign Mr Buti’s petition visit his or Mr Randall’s offices in Kelmscott.
To sign the online petition visit www.change.org/p/city-of-armadale-upgrade-denny-avenue-rail-crossing.
