Community
10 April, 2026
Pedestrian crossing for Otway Road
PEDESTRIAN safety on Otway Road is about to improve with construction now underway on a new raised pedestrian crossing.
The first project identified in the East Warrnambool Local Area Traffic Management Plan (LATM) is now under way, with construction on a new raised pedestrian crossing on Otway Road.
Work began earlier this week on the crossing, between Ilex Avenue and the rail bridge.
The East Warrnambool LATM was adopted by council in October 2025 and was shaped by input from more than 300 residents, students and organisations.
Warrnambool mayor Cr Ben Blain said the project would improve safety at a busy location while also marking an important step in delivering on the recently adopted plan.
“It’s an increasingly busy road with about 7,000 vehicle movements a day, so a safe crossing point will be a big help,” he said.
“This is the first project from the East Warrnambool LATM to be constructed, which is really great to see.
“We worked with the community on the LATM and identified upgrades, big and small, that will help make the area safer and easier for people to get around.
“The Otway Road crossing is a good example of a project that is ready to go and able to deliver immediate benefits for the community.”
Cr Blain said council had secured $120,000 from the Victorian Government’s Safer Local Roads and Streets program, with council contributing approximately $30,000.
“Thank you to the state government for helping fund this important project,” he said.
“Some of the larger projects identified in the LATM, such as the Nicholson and Flaxman intersection and the Hopkins and Marfell intersection, need further investigation and substantially more funding before they can proceed, but they remain high priorities.”
The Otway Road crossing also lies on the route of the proposed Deakin Link shared path along the rail corridor.
“We still don’t have a timeframe on the trail itself as it would require funding support from other levels of government, but this crossing is a step forward,” Cr Blain said.
Work is expected to take approximately six weeks.
It is anticipated this section of Otway Road/Flaxman Street will operate with a single lane of alternating traffic, with portable traffic lights on site, for the next four weeks.
The southern exit of Ilex Avenue will also be closed for the duration of the project, although traffic will still be able to enter Ilex Avenue from Flaxman Street.
“We’ve timed the works to make use of the school holiday period, but the alternating lanes will still be in place for the first two weeks of term two,” Cr Blain said.
“Thank you in advance for your patience.”
