Traffic light funding to help wheelchair users

News Release - 1 April 1999

The Member for Box Hill, Robert Clark, today announced that the State Government would provide $7,000 to set up wheelchair detector loops near Box Hill Central Shopping Centre.

The detector loops which will be installed at the Station Street and Carrington Road intersection, Box Hill, will increase the amount of time wheelchair-bound pedestrians are given to cross the road, and will create a much safer environment.

"The new sensors will double the ‘walk time’ available to wheelchair bound citizens, while causing little inconvenience to traffic flow through the intersection", Mr. Clark said.

"When the site is not being used by a person in a wheelchair ‘walk times’ will remain unchanged."

"However when a wheelchair is detected by the loops the ‘walk time’ will be adjusted accordingly."

"The ability of the detector loops to sense the presence of a wheelchair and adjust the walk time in response is a terrific innovation".

"I would like to congratulate the Minister for Roads and Ports, Mr. Geoff Craige, for responding quickly and positively to users’ concerns about the intersection."

Work to install the detector loops will be completed by May 1999.