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Fix Harpers Hill Black Spot


Fix Harpers Hill Black Spot

Author: NRMA MediaDate: 09 February 2009

NRMA Motoring & Services local Director Kyle Loades today called on the NSW Government to address serious safety issues on the New England Highway at Harpers Hill where a number of people have lost their lives.

"The stretch of highway bounded by Allandale Road, Oswald Lane, Harpers Hill Lane, Walkers Hill Lane and Orient Street has a severe lack of passing and turning lanes that have resulted in many accidents and the needless loss of life," Mr Loades said.

"NRMA Members have directly raised safety concerns with me about this section of the highway.

"Allandale Road enters the New England Highway in a 100km/h zone up a hill to the west and downhill to the east. Oswald Lane is situated on a bend just west of Allandale road. At least these two junctions have merging lanes on the highway.

"Harpers Hill Lane, Walkers Hill Lane and Orient Street are dangerous intersections with no merging lanes at all.

"Black Spot funding has been a major factor in improving road safety on many roads around Australia and the Harpers Hill black spot should become a priority considering its high crash rate."

Last week, the NRMA warmly welcomed an additional $90 million in Black Spot funding, noting that $30 million will be immediately available to be spent this financial year.

Mr Loades said the State Government needed to act immediately as national highways - including the New England - had been previously excluded from the Black Spot Program up until now.

"The new federal funding provides an unexpected but welcome opportunity to remedy the safety issues on this dangerous section of the New England Highway," Mr Loades said. "

On behalf of NRMA Members and New England Highway motorists, I have written to the Minister for Roads, Michael Daley.

"I have requested Mr Daley to instruct the Roads and Traffic Authority to prioritise and plan the appropriate works to occur at the Harpers Hill Black Spot and seek to use some of the federal funding that has now become available for this purpose."

On a separate issue, the NRMA is waiting for the outcome of the Infrastructure Australia process which is considering whether to fund the F3 to Branxton Link project.

Mr Loades said it essential that the link is built to benefit local communities and motorists who commute to and from the Hunter region via the busy New England Highway.

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