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But VicRoads says there are other locations with greater need
AN accident near the Marascos Lane turnoff on the Happy Valley Road that was like a scene out of an action film has sparked calls for VicRoads to install some form of safety barrier along the road to prevent further serious crashes occurring.
On Saturday, January 21, a man escaped serious injury when his car veered off Happy Valley Road and rolled down an embankment before smashing into a tobacco kiln.
The crash left a nearby resident fearing for her safety on a daily basis and dreading traffic using the road.
Arlene Zozula, who lives just metres from the incident, said local residents have had concerns about the safety of the road for some time and they will look to VicRoads to put up some sort of protection for the future.
"About three times a day, people who must come off Carrolls Road from Albury, the bends before and as soon as they clear that corner, they speed up and overtake and everybody said one day somebody’s going to come over that embankment," she said.
"We will be approaching VicRoads to try and get a barrier put up."
Ms Zozula’s actions may be in vain, as the road management authority feels the piece of road does not warrant protection compared to others in the state deemed to be in greater need of upgrading.
VicRoads regional director North Eastern Region Graham Freestone said VicRoads acknowledged concerns regarding safety on the road near Marascos Lane and has investigated these issues.
"Proposals for safety improvements such as guard rail installation are considered on a region and state-wide basis, with priority given to locations with a history of casualty crashes," he said.
"There have not been any casualty crashes at this location in the past five years, and at this time VicRoads considers that there are other locations which are a higher priority than this site for safety improvements."
Myrtleford police’s Leading Senior Constable Bernard Murphy is in Ms Zozula’s corner and firmly believes something needs to be done to help prevent serious accidents on the busy stretch of road.
"I think there needs to be an arm car rail installed given the high amount of traffic to and from Falls Creek," Snr Const Murphy said.
"Many people using the road don’t know it and this is a danger to the person living in the house.
"The car could have easily ended up on the roof of the house if the accident had happened seconds earlier."
Snr Const Murphy said the driver was "extremely lucky" to walk away from the accident, which could have been a scene from an action film, according to a bystander.
"A witness said it was like watching something out of a movie when the car left the road, rolled and bounced several times before crashing into the tobacco kiln," he said.
"This road will only get busier as more and more people will travel that way to the snow."
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