Princes Highway - six deaths in sixty days

There have been six deaths on the Princes Highway since the taskforce was formed 60 days ago. Visiting Wollongong today, NRMA Motoring & Services President Ross Turnbull said a meeting of the Princes Highway Taskforce in Kiama earlier this week had highlighted the recent deaths and the impact of those crashes on local industry.

Six people killed in 60 days - thats six more reasons why the upgrade of the Princes Highway can't wait any longer, Mr Turnbull said.

Mr Turnbull said a recent crash south of Fox Ground had closed the highway for 16 hours, highlighting the impact of highway closures on local industry.

Apart from the human tragedy that crashes cause, there is a fundamental economic argument for improving the Princes Highway, Mr Turnbull said. There is no alternative link along the South Coast for freight. When the road is blocked, businesses cant deliver goods and services that towns depend on. Local industries suffer as a result.

Mr Turnbull said in recent months people of all political persuasions had claimed that funding of the Princes Highway was not a matter for both the State and Federal government. Its entirely unacceptable that people keep kicking the funding football back and forth while people are dying on this important arterial link, Mr Turnbull said.

Stop blaming each other and get on with finding a joint solution to this problem. These latest deaths prove once again that immediate funding is required to address the three key priorities identified by the taskforce, including:

• Completion of a four lane dual carriageway north of the Jervis Bay turnoff to a 100km/hour design standard by 2010
• Upgrading of major constraint points which render the Princes Highway impassable during adverse weather conditions, including the Pambula River floodplain.
• Bring all sections up to highway standards including overtaking opportunities every 5km, local rest areas and parking.