Students at Mount Evelyn Primary School will hop straight into school and home again with this artistic pedestrian crossing recently installed by Roadside Services and Solutions on Monbulk Road, Mount Evelyn,outside the school.
The pedestrian crossing was painted by Roadside Services and Solutions with the 3D artwork by Zest Events International, under very trying weather conditions. With help from a very active school committee of parents and teachers, the work was able to be completed despite the wintery rains and cold weather which threatened to postpone the job.
The work was instigated the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) girls at Mount Evelyn Primary School and supported by Yarra Ranges Council. The crossing was funded by VicRoads.
The school project involved working on safety in school zones and driver awareness under the careful direction of teacher Trish Rathmell.
Roadside Services and Solutions line marking manager Jamie Moxham says, “This is where art meets road, meets safety. The upgraded 3D linemarked crossing, bridges the divide from one side of the street to the other.
“Nothing like hopping right into school is there?” Jamie Moxham quipped.
Lead Artist Jenny McCracken from Zest Events is recognised around the world and has won many awards for her 3D artwork, she fulfilled the STEM girls brief and created a design which jumps right out in front of pedestrians and drivers.
The crossing installation was planned for what had promised to be a dry weekend,but typical Melbourne, unpredictable weather changes brought rain.
Quick-thinking efforts by teacher Trish Rathmell and artist Jenny McCracken saved the day, or rather ensured the job could proceed, sending out a call on social media for parents to come and help.
“It was really great to see parents from the local community turning up and providing us shelter and tarpaulins to keep the water off the area to ensure Jenny’s creative talents were perfectly laid on Monbulk Road.
“Line marking is more than just being able to paint straight or curved lines,” Jamie Moxham says.
“We need to be innovative and work with all kinds of new ways of making our roads safer for cars and pedestrians. Roadside has invested heavily in the latest equipment and we’re able to deliver a large scope of work to Australian roads and car parks and this is just one example of the innovations in line marking – a pedestrian crossing that jumps right out at you.”
