Lights on: Lynn Bowden stands where Somerville's first traffic lights are to be installed.Picture: Daryl Gordon
SOMERVILLE will get its first set of traffic lights within the next 12 months.
The need for traffic lights in Eramosa Road West was identified during the Centro development in 2008 and reinforced during the development of the Somerville pedestrian strategy.
The signals will be placed at the Somerville Plaza entrance, near the service station, and are expected to cost about $600,000.
The operators of Somerville Plaza and Somerville Centro will pay two-thirds of the cost and Mornington Peninsula Shire will cover the remainder.
There have been no objections to installing the lights. Watson Ward councillor Lynn Bowden said she had been pushing hard for the signals since being elected to the council.
"I've been a bit of a pain in the butt to the officers, but you take your life into your hands at times when you try to cross that road," Cr Bowden said.
"Eramosa Road West is a main east-west arterial road that gets very busy. These lights are very important, particularly for pedestrian safety. This outcome has been a long time coming, and I thank the people of Somerville for their patience."
Cr Bowden said improving pedestrian and vehicle safety in and around Somerville had been one of her top priorities on the council.
"We have recently developed a pedestrian strategy for Somerville that will allow residents to move freely and safely around the town.
"An important part of that strategy is the installation of a pedestrian crossing in Station Street and speed humps in Graf Road and Blacks Camp Road.
"This is on top of the pathway in Bungower Road and the boom gates that were installed in Bungower Road and Mornington Tyabb Road."