Monday 24 April 2017

Cessnock Council calling for funds to fix roads

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Cessnock City Council is calling on the NSW Government to make their roads a priority and address concerns over the condition of state roads in the area.

Cessnock councillors have voted unanimously to support a motion to seek support from state government officials.

Mayor Bob Pynsent says the council are seeking urgent meetings with the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey, in a bid to work towards a solution for Cessnock's ageing state road network.

Talks with other official parties haven't been as successful as the council had hoped.

'We've been talking to RMS (Roads and Maritime Services) for a number of months now, and we don't seem to be getting a final result; as in funding for our roads, and we're concerned about Main Road Heddon Greta, the entrances out of Frame Drive Bridge and Wine Country Drive at Nulkaba."

Among the roads and intersections the council say need attention include:
- Wine Country Drive, Nulkaba - intersection work
- Wine Country Drive, Nulkaba maintenance works and access to the Cessnock Correctional Centre
- Main Road, Heddon Greta - intersection issues and pedestrian issues
- Hart Road, Frame Drive, Orange Street, Cessnock Road connection to the HEX
- Wollombi Road

The Hunter Expressway is thought to be causing a lot of problems for the small town roads with a lot of extra traffic moving through the town to either get on the expressway or getting off to go elsewhere.

"The need for funding is purely on the saftey issues that have resulted from teh extra traffic on the road network around the hunter expressway," said Bob Pynsent.