Grant Street safety upgrades move into design phase

Published on 15 May 2026

Planning and design work is progressing for a series of pedestrian safety improvements along Grant Street in Alexandra, focused on the section between the Rotunda precinct and the Nihil Street roundabout.

The works relate to two raised priority pedestrian crossing projects currently in development:

• A raised priority pedestrian crossing near the Rotunda on Grant Street.
• Raised priority pedestrian crossings at the Grant Street and Nihil Street roundabout.

Both projects are expected to be delivered by mid-2027.

Council has also recently secured funding for a third raised priority pedestrian crossing project at the Webster Street school crossing. Together, these projects form part of Council’s Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan and the broader Alexandra Movement and Place Project.

Community members may have recently noticed contractors undertaking survey and marking works along footpaths and road edges throughout the precinct. Council has taken the opportunity to survey the broader Grant Street area, including underground services and height levels, to support both the current projects and future planning.

The investigations will also help inform planning for a future Grant Street streetscape upgrade, including accessibility, parking and placemaking improvements. Funding for the broader streetscape component has not yet been secured. Community engagement on the wider Alexandra Movement and Place Project is expected to begin later this year.

Mayor Cr Damien Gallagher said the projects represented an important opportunity to improve safety, accessibility and the overall experience of Alexandra’s town centre.

“Grant Street is one of Alexandra’s key community spaces, used every day by residents, visitors, families and local businesses,” Cr Gallagher said.

Raised priority pedestrian crossings, commonly known as “wombat crossings”, are recognised as an effective road safety treatment because they slow vehicle speeds and improve pedestrian visibility. Research shows these treatments can significantly reduce crash severity.

The planned improvements are also expected to make the area easier and safer to move through for people using wheelchairs, mobility aids and prams, while helping clarify parking and improve movement through the town centre.

Cr Gallagher said the current survey works were an important early step in ensuring future plans are accurate and informed.

“The contractors currently on site are collecting detailed survey information and identifying underground services to support the design process,” he said.

Council confirmed the recent survey activity does not relate to the Maroondah Highway intersection.

“While the Maroondah Highway is managed by the Victorian Government, Council has recently met with the Department of Transport and Planning following the tragic pedestrian fatality in Alexandra, with a shared focus on improving safety in both the short and longer term,” Cr Gallagher said.

“The Department has committed to working closely with Council and the Alexandra community to explore potential safety improvements, including pedestrian treatments, intersection improvements and speed environment reviews.”

“Longer term opportunities will also be explored, including future options to reduce heavy vehicle movements through Alexandra’s town centre, however no decisions will be made without community involvement.”

The Grant Street and Nihil Street roundabout project is funded through the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program 2025/26, with a grant of $439,000, secured for the project.

The raised priority pedestrian crossing near the Rotunda is funded through the Transport Accident Commission’s Local Government Infrastructure Grant Program 2025. The project has a total value of $267,000, including $100,000 in TAC funding, with Council contributing the remaining $167,000.

The pedestrian safety projects are supported through the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program and the Transport Accident Commission’s Local Government Infrastructure Grant Program, which fund safety improvements on local roads and streets across Victoria.