Works planned for intersection death trap

By Owen Sinclair

Feb 25, 2025

State Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell is calling for action on the intersection. Photo: Nico Keenan.

Following another collision at a notorious intersection near Strathmerton, a local advocate is calling on the Victorian Government to do its part to enhance safety at the site.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

State Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell used a constituency question during a sitting of parliament to raise the issue of the Labuan Rd-Murray Valley Hwy intersection with Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne.

“Tragically, six lives have been lost at this intersection in the last two years and the government must do everything possible to make drivers travelling north on Labuan Rd aware that they are approaching a busy highway ahead,” she said.

Mrs Tyrrell drew attention to the most recent incident at the intersection, in which two people were rushed to hospital after a northbound vehicle allegedly failed to give way approaching the Murray Valley Hwy.

She said she had been informed by constituents of worn rumble strips on Labuan Rd, inadequate signage and trees impairing drivers’ visibility approaching the intersection.

“The one thing the government has done is lower the speed limit, which has done nothing to stop these terrible collisions, and I call on the minister to implement effective safety measures at the intersection to improve safety for road users,” Mrs Tyrrell said.

Five people lost their lives in a crash at the intersection in April 2023. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said further works on the intersection were planned for later this year.

“We’ve listened to community concerns and worked with the local council to deliver safety upgrades at the Labuan Rd-Murray Valley Hwy intersection between Strathmerton and Yarroweyah,” the spokesperson said.

Improving safety at the intersection has been approved for funding under the Federal Government’s Black Spot Program 2024/25.

Moira Shire Council in June last year received over $3.1 million from the program to improve safety at four locations across the shire, including the Labuan Rd-Murray Valley Hwy intersection.

Of that, council received about $2.099 million collectively to spend on upgrades, including electronic speed signage and lighting at the intersection.