Jun 1, 2023 2 min read

Awkward Norman Street Intersection Made Dangerous

Safety initiative make situation worse

These Marshall Street boom gates operate every few minutes, queuing traffic that creates congestion at Norman Street.

[Update 24 June 2023 - Council advises lighting installation is now being arranged]

Efforts to improve pedestrian safety in Norman Street outside Ivanhoe Station by building a new pedestrian crossing seem to have made the situation worse.

The protective protrusion for pedestrians about to cross Norman Street north to south creates a chicane for eastbound Norman Street vehicles wishing to continue into Sherwood Road.

No lighting at the pedestrian crossing close to the Marshall Street junction means drivers cannot see pedestrians on the crossing.

Boom gates, multiple Give Way signs and now an unlit pedestrian crossing combine to make an awkward intersection dangerous.

As cars turn left out of Marshall Street into Norman Street their lights "blind" eastbound Norman Street drivers - right at the approach to the pedestrian crossing.

Only 5:30 p.m. on June 2 and the sky is still blue - but the unlit pedestrian crossing is a trap for the unwary.

This intersection is always challenging because of the multiple Give Way signs and the boom gates.

Drivers exiting Marshall Street on a right hand turn are confused by having vehicles on their right waiting at a Give Way sign.

Hesitancy begets impulsive attempts to cross the fastest stream of vehicles turning right from Norman Street into Marshall Street.

Impatience with the staccato traffic movement caused by cars being queued on all approaches by the train line boom gates does not help things.

Vehicles blocking the intersection is a frequent occurence.

Morning school drop-off times for IGGS coincide with highest frequency commuter trains.

Council has been asked to urgently review traffic management at the intersection, including the lighting of the pedestrian crossing.

Regular users of these streets believe the new pedestrian crossing has been built too close the intersection.

This is a busy road as Ivanhoe traffic attempts to get to the Burke Road bridge over the Yarra via Maltravers Road, or to access Lower Heidelberg Road.

Traffic off Burke Road and Lower Heidelberg Roads destined for Ivanhoe and for IGGS is channelled through the Marshall Street boom gates.

The situation is not helped by rail passengers unable to use the ancient steps to cross the lines at the station being forced up to the Marshall Street level crossing.

This unsatisfactory situation has been suffered for too long.