ONE beautiful graphic on the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) website holds the promise for our community.
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If we could immediately transpose that image (above) onto the New England Highway between Belford and its intersection with the Golden Highway then perhaps the horror accidents that have taken place on that section of road will be a thing of the past.
The RMS vision for the upgrade of the road at a cost of $85 million includes the construction of a flyover from the Golden Highway for traffic turning right on the New England Highway.
Plus the construction of a dual carriage between Belford and the intersection, which means drivers will no longer have to negotiate the two merges and a single southbound lane as they head towards Newcastle.
As reported in The Argus on Tuesday, the New England Highway between Belford and Whittingham has claimed nine lives in 11 years; most recently last Thursday when two teenagers were killed just south of the intersection.
Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen said the community was encouraged to comment on a proposed New England Highway upgrade between Belford and the Golden Highway.
He said the NSW Government had committed $85 million as part of the Rebuilding NSW Plan to improve traffic flow, travel times and safety on this section of the highway.
“More than 22,000 vehicles use this section of highway daily and, since July 2009, there have been 23 crashes at the New England and Golden Highway intersection resulting in one fatality and 11 injuries,” he said.
“The proposed upgrade involves widening the New England Highway to provide two lanes in each direction between Belford and the Golden Highway.
“This is the last section between Newcastle and the Golden Highway to be upgraded to provide two lanes in each direction.
“Both the Golden and New England highways are used extensively by heavy vehicles accessing the port of Newcastle for coal mining, grain production and other industries in the Hunter Valley and Central West.
“Not only would the upgrade improve road safety but also increase freight transport efficiency.”
Commenting on measures that could be taken immediately to reduce accidents at the intersection, Mr Johnsen said he would be holding discussions with the RMS to see what can be done to improve road safety.
A greater police presence has already been noted on that section of road in the past week.
The Argus would like the relevant authorities to investigate if a reduction in the speed limit, installation of a wire dividing barrier and cameras including one on the Golden Highway to police the compliance with the stop sign could also be a possibility.
The community is invited to have a say on the proposal by June 22.
Feedback will be used to inform the concept design and environmental assessment.
The proposal can be viewed online at www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects; at the Singleton Motor Registry, Singleton Council or the Branxton Post Office from Monday.