The long awaited pedestrian crossing and refuge across Murray Street near the Gawler Central Railway Station has been constructed and is operational.

Local Member Tony Piccolo said the new crossing has been welcomed by local residents who can now cross Murray Street to go to the train station and Northern Market Shopping Centre with a higher level of safety.

Mr Piccolo said that each work day 19,000 vehicles cross Murray Street at this point which made it very difficult and ‘quite dangerous’ for pedestrians crossing the street at this point.“Elderly people and parents with prams and young children really struggle to cross the street at this point,” Mr Piccolo said.

Mr Piccolo said he was delighted that $100,000 had been put aside in the Responsive Road Safety Program for the project to be undertaken, which included the installation of kerb ramps, handrails and associated pavement Marking.

Mr Piccolo said the need for a pedestrian crossing on Murray Street near the Gawler Central railway station had been raised with him some years ago and he had continued to lobby for its construction.Willaston resident Ms Karen Farrell was one of the first residents to raise the issue with Mr Piccolo in mid-2011.

Mr Piccolo then wrote to the (then) Minister for Road Safety the Hon Tom Kenyon MP seeking his support to have the crossing constructed.Planning for the refuge was delayed while new traffic arrangements for the Northern Shopping Centre [Coles] were under consideration.

Over the years Mr Piccolo has raised the matter with successive Transport and Road Safety Ministers to ensure the need for a pedestrian refuge was not forgotten.

Mr Piccolo thanked officers from the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure who had been very supportive during the long process.

“This is a very busy section of road in our local area and the pedestrian refuge will mean there is a much safer environment for people to cross Murray Street near Coles.”

“While it has taken some time to have the pedestrian crossing constructed, it does nevertheless demonstrate that persistence pays off.