Instead, the minor works are designed to reduce the impact of crashes rather than prevent them.

The five-way intersection is one of Casey's worst, with 12 recorded casualty crashes - one a double fatality, four involving serious injuries and seven other injury crashes - in the five years to June 30 last year.

When barriers were erected and roadworks began at the intersection a couple of weeks ago, residents were hopeful that it would reduce the danger.

VicRoads acting regional director Graham Clarke said the project included undergrounding drainage and installing kerbing and channel between Clyde-Fiveways Road and Manks Road.

A wire rope safety barrier would also be installed on the south side of the highway.

Mr Clarke said creating a safer roadside was essential to improving road safety in the event of a run-off road crash.

However, Devon Meadows CFA brigade captain Andrew Swain said he didn't believe the works would do much to reduce the dangers.

A safety barrier could even impede emergency vehicles and make it more dangerous for crews attending accidents, he said.

Mr Swain has more reason than most to dread the intersection - he has lost count of the accidents he and his crew have attended there over the years.

In 2007, two men died when a car travelling at night without lights ploughed into a double B truck turning out of the Clyde-Five Ways Road onto the highway.

"That was probably the worst. We were called out about 4am on a Saturday morning and the last of our crew left well into the afternoon."

The speed limit was lowered from 100km/h to 90km/h a few years ago to reduce the risks but Mr Swain said few cars slowed and it was still a bad corner.

He believes a roundabout or traffic lights are the only ways to reduce the danger - "roundabouts tend to slow and manage the traffic".

He said the intersection of the highway and Baxter-Tooradin Road had been the scene of many high-speed accidents until a roundabout was installed several years ago.

Mr Swain was disappointed that he had not been informed or consulted about the roadworks, either as a resident of captain of the CFA.