Chester Street, Oakleigh Two-Way Traffic Trial

Chester Street is a one-way (westbound) busy road, which runs between Jones Street to the west and Hanover Street to the east. It has a carriageway width of 10.3m, including parallel parking on both sides of the road and a single traffic lane. At Eaton Mall, the carriageway narrows to approximately 3.5m wide through the provision of kerb extensions (no parallel parking).

Update

Report to Council Meeting - 31 January 2023(PDF, 4MB)

Council Meeting Decisions (item 1.7)(PDF, 467KB)

Watch Council meeting video recording (item 1.7)

At its meeting on 31 January 2023, Council resolved to not pursue the two-way traffic concept at the eastern end of Chester Street, Oakleigh at this time.

Reasons for this included:

• Whilst changing the eastern end of Chester Street to a two-way traffic flow would reduce traffic volumes passing Eaton Mall, the traffic volumes would still be well above the threshold set by the Victorian Government Department of Transport and Planning (DoTP) for the implementation of a Shared Zone.
• Given the minor reduction in traffic volume the change to a two-way flow would have limited pedestrian safety benefits at the Eaton Mall signalised pedestrian crossing and would likely introduce new pedestrian safety risks within the proposed two-way section of Chester Street.
• This change would result in a range of other negative traffic impacts including the loss of 5 on-street parking spaces on the north side of Chester Street and potential traffic flow implications at Atherton Road / Hanover Street and the Hanover Street car park northern access.

You can read more detail in the report to Council (31 January 2023)(PDF, 4MB)

Proposal

Report to Council Meeting - 25 October 2022(PDF, 553KB)

Council Meeting Decisions (item 6.2)(PDF, 325KB)

Watch Council meeting video recording (item 6.2)

Given the current issues in Chester Street relating to pedestrian safety, this proposal could offer a solution to reduce through-traffic which would contribute to a calmer and safer street environment. It is recommended that Council directs officers to investigate the possibility of a two-way traffic trial in Chester Street, Oakleigh between the eastern end of the Chester Street carpark and Hanover Street

The feasibility study is in line with Council’s Road Management Plan 2021 to ensure that a safe and efficient integrated transport network is provided for the movement of persons and goods.