CHANGE of shift coalmine traffic has taken the total number of motor vehicles running through the rural area of Glendon to an estimated 2000 vehicles a day.
Residents are becoming increasingly concerned about the danger and noise and frustrated by a lack of action to address the problem.
The state government’s Roads and Maritime Services department and Singleton Council were formally told of the problem more than nine months ago.
A petition, signed by 96 people calling for speed limit reductions, went to the department and council more than six months ago.
A long-time Glendon resident, who declined to be named, said near miss accidents were now frighteningly common.
He told The Argus of a motorbike rider who recently moved into the middle of the road to cross the on-coming lane and turn into his driveway after work, was passed from behind by two vehicles, one on his left and the other on his right.
One resident has been forced to put noise-muffling shutters on his home and wear earplugs now to dampen pre-dawn traffic noise.
Another is considering major sound-proofing for his home and the situation has pushed several residents to put their properties up for sale.
The Argus contacted the Roads and Maritime Services department and received a two sentence reply from media spokeswoman Jo Box.
The statement said: “Roads and Maritme Services is aware Glendon residents are concerned about speeding vehicles and has raised these concerns with the New South Police Force for consideration of enforcement.
“Roads and Maritime Services has scheduled speed zone reviews in the area for July.”
The Glendon resident who spoke to The Argus wrote again last week to the Roads and Maritime Services, the council, mayor Sue Moore, the state Member for Upper Hunter George Souris and federal Member for Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon as there appeared to have been little or no action on the issue in the past six months.
“It is inevitable there will be a fatality as the situation is worsening every day,” he said.
“Who is responsible for the control of the dangers and heartaches that these drivers are creating?
“People in authority have been made aware of the problem and the Glendon residents want to know why someone can’t get on with the job.”
The Glendon petition calls for the speed on Glendon Lane and Glendon Road to be cut from 100km/h to 80km/h and the speed through Glendon “village” be reduced to 60km/h.
The safety of children using school buses during coalmine peak traffic periods was at risk and it was also dangerous for anyone to walk or ride bikes and horses during these times, the petition says.
Residents and people who use Glendon’s roads, including a temporary school bus driver, signed the petition.
The Glendon resident told The Argus that a Singleton Council traffic survey, taken over seven days in October last year, found an average of more than 1500 vehicles used Glendon Road and Glendon Lane every day.
“This is a 24-hour average that includes a weekend and most of the traffic comes through between 5am and 8am and again between 3pm and 7pm on working days,” he said.
“And because of roadworks on the highway at Branxton the traffic seems to be heavier now than last October.
“I just hope someone doesn’t have to die before something is done.”