The Victorian Government has announced $2.4 million in funding for local road safety projects across the state, including new pedestrian crossings in Melbourne’s bayside suburbs and safety upgrades in regional Victoria.
The funding has been awarded through the Transport Accident Commission’s Local Government Grant Program, which supports councils to implement measures aimed at reducing road trauma.
Melissa Horne, Victoria’s Minister for Roads and Road Safety, said the program enabled local governments to deliver targeted safety improvements.
She said councils were often best placed to identify hazards on local roads and that the grants supported projects aimed at improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Under the latest round, Bayside City Council will construct five raised “wombat” crossings and reduce speed limits at a roundabout in Brighton to improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians.
In regional Victoria, the Shire of Murrindindi will upgrade a pedestrian crossing on Grant Street in Alexandra by installing a raised crossing designed to improve visibility, accessibility and traffic calming in the town centre.
The projects are aligned with the “Safe System” model used in road safety planning, which focuses on safer roads and roadsides, vehicle safety, safe travel speeds and responsible road use.
The grants form part of the broader Victorian Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030, which aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the state’s roads. Funding prioritises improvements on local roads, where councils are often responsible for identifying and addressing safety risks.
Pedestrians and cyclists remain among the most vulnerable road users in Victoria. According to state data, 52 pedestrians and nine cyclists died on Victorian roads in 2025. In the 2024–25 financial year, 583 pedestrians and 391 cyclists were hospitalised following road crashes.
Member for Southern Metropolitan Ryan Batchelor said the funding would help councils introduce measures such as safer crossings, lower speed limits and improved visibility on local streets.
Applications for the 2026 round of the grant program are expected to open in June.
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