RACV names Racecourse and Flemington roads among Melbourne’s most dangerous intersections

A major gateway between North Melbourne, Kensington and Parkville has been named among Melbourne’s most dangerous intersections, with the Flemington Rd and Racecourse Rd junction singled out by the RACV as one of the city’s highest-risk locations for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

The intersection – where traffic from the CityLink off-ramp, trams, bikes and local vehicles converge – was voted the worst in inner Melbourne as part of the RACV’s My Melbourne Road campaign.

The report, based on crash data, traffic volumes and community feedback, highlights the crossing as a chronic congestion point and a safety hazard for all road users.

Residents of North Melbourne, Kensington and Parkville Gardens know the intersection well – a vital east–west connection linking Racecourse Rd to Flemington Rd and the CBD, as well as to Royal Park, hospitals, and the Tullamarine Freeway. During peak hours, the area becomes a complex mix of trams, turning cars and cyclists, with narrow lanes and unclear signals contributing to confusion and near misses.

Respondents to the RACV survey cited traffic build-up, tram interactions and poor driver behaviour as key concerns.

The RACV’s head of policy, James Williams, said the intersection had become emblematic of the wider problem of Melbourne’s outdated road design struggling to accommodate modern transport needs.

Forty per cent of crashes in Melbourne occur at intersections,” Mr Williams said. “If we’re going to reach our Towards Zero target of halving road deaths by 2030, government needs to invest in fixing these intersections.

The Flemington Rd and Racecourse Rd junction was assessed alongside 364 other sites across the city, with the RACV and the National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) identifying 84 of the worst intersections for targeted improvement.

In the RACV’s analysis, the Racecourse–Flemington crossing stood out not just for its traffic congestion, but for the sheer volume of transport modes it must support – trams, buses, bikes, and vehicles all competing for space near a major residential and commercial corridor.

Local residents have long called for upgrades, with many arguing that safety for cyclists and pedestrians remains an afterthought despite the area’s growing population and proximity to major developments in Arden and Macaulay.

“Fixing these intersections will not only reduce crash risks, but also daily stress and delays,” Mr Williams said, urging government investment to improve safety and traffic flow. •