Revised Muswellbrook Bypass plans released

BY JARROD MELMETH 

Revised plans for the Muswellbrook Bypass have been released by the state government, with community feedback being sought. 

Online information sessions are being held in November where the community will have the opportunity to ask questions or raise concerns with the bypass to the Transport for NSW team.

There have been a number of changes, following a community consultation period in 2020 including; 

• A full connection at Coal Road, providing a link to Muswellbrook Town Centre
• Connection to Burtons Lane and the New England Highway modified to join to the roundabout at the northern connection
• Connection of Koolbury Flats Row and the New England Highway been moved further north providing increased safety. A dedicated left turn deceleration lane has been provided for traffic entering Koolbury Flats Row.
• Right and left turning lanes provided at the connection of Milpera Drive and the New England Highway to assists vehicle turning and movements and improve the safety of access

The latest round of community consultation is open until December 17 at 5pm.

More information on the project, information sessions and feedback can be found on the Transport for NSW website. 

Artist impression of the proposed southern connection facing
 north towards Muswellbrook.

Artist impression of the proposed Sandy Creek Bridge.

Hunter Receives Almost $9 Million in Federal Government Road Infrastructure Funding

 BY ISABEL EVERETT

The Hunter region will share in close to $9 million dollars in Federal Government funding as part of the Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI Program). 

On Friday 22nd May, the Australian Government committed $500 million to the program, the Hunter region receiving $8,816,782 in funds, aiming to support jobs, businesses and the resilience of local economies.

Each Hunter LGA Council received: 

• Cessnock $1,065,399 
• Lake Macquarie Council $1,752,388
• Maitland $872,757
• Musswellbrook, $577,898
• Newcastle $1,146,471
• Port Stephens $780,527
• Singleton $816,085
• Upper Hunter $1,230,434
• Dungog $574, 823

Councils will be able to access the funding from July 1st, to support priority local road and community infrastructure projects. 

They will need to complete all project works by June 30th 2021 to receive their full share of the funding, and demonstrate that projects are additional to their pre-COVID-19 work program for 2020-21. 

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications will be consulting with local government organisations to finalise arrangements, before Councils will identify local projects in their area.

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has welcomed the $1.14 million for road projects in Newcastle.  

“The funding will support priority projects from a list submitted to the Government in March,” Ms Claydon said.

  

“I was very concerned that this could turn into another sports rorts disaster so I wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister to back the bid and call for a fair distribution of these public funds.”

 

Ms Claydon said that while the modest roads infrastructure funding was welcome, it was still disappointing the Morrison Government excluded council workers from the JobKeeper program, forcing the State Government to fill the breach.

“I absolutely welcome this funding which will help stimulate local economic activity,” Ms Claydon said. 

“It’s still unfortunate that the Government didn’t recognise the important of local economies and local jobs when it excluded council workers from the JobKeeper program.”

Image Credit: NSW Government

Operation Slow Down: Hunter Police Out in Force This Weekend

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Operation Slow Down is in force this weekend from midnight tonight until 11:59pm on Monday the Hunter's roads.

Double demerits will be in place for speeding, mobile phone use behind the wheel, and motorcycle helmet offences.

Officers will be out in force in a bid to stop fatal accidents on the region's roads. This time last year, 94 drink-drivers were caught and there were 79 major crashes of which one was fatal and 11 were alcohol-related.

"People need to take responsibility for their actions and drive to the conditions especially on country roads. Speeding is the biggest contributor to fatal crashes in NSW, about 40 per cent of fatal crashes, and when you combine speeding with drinking, driving, taking drugs, distractions or tiredness all of those combined whilst driving are disastrous," said Chief Inspector Bruce McGregor.

We're being advised to allow extra travel time as well with heavy traffic expected on M1 with the upgrade between Doyalson and Tuggerah still underway, as well as on the Pacific Highway at Hexham and Raymond Terrace.

Chief Inspector McGregor says police just want all motorists to be safe on the road to give everyone the best chance of getting home in one piece.

"I'd just ask motorists to demonstrate patience, respect for other road users, be aware of things that can happen such as kangaroos or dangerous driving manoeuvres in front. Drive defensively, and plan your trip accordingly so you do have rest and sustenance."

Road Funding for Port Stephens

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Five of Port Stephen's worst road blackspots won't be a danger for much longer, with a funding boost from the state government.

As a part of the Safer Roads Program $3 million will be invested into projects like off-road cycleways and widened lanes on Nelson Bay Road, nearly $800,000 into two intersections on Lemon Tree Passage Road and traffic calming devices in a couple of areas.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says in regional areas, including the Hunter, 254 people have lost their lives on local roads. That's two-thirds of the total road toll for 2016.

"It's really targeted at some of those areas where there's evidence of crashes and injuries and even death. Regional NSW is unfortunately disproportionately represented in terms of road deaths and road injuries."

The five upgrades are:
- $300,000 for off-road cycleways at roundabouts, and widening lanes for more cycleways on a 9.5km length of nNelson Bay Road and east of Marsh Road, Williamtown/Salt Ash
- $795,000 for two intersections on Lemon Tree Passage Road, Tenilba Bay
- $1.65 million to install a two lane roundabout at intersection of Raymond Terrace Road and Seaham Road at Nelsons Plains
- $120,000 to install traffic calming devices, improve road surface with increased friction and improve sight distance at intersection of Shoal Bay Road and Gowrie Avenue at Nelson Bay
- $190,000 to install traffic calming devices to reduce risk of crashes on Foreshore Drive, Port Stephens Drive, Salamander Bay

Scot MacDonald says ironically, the money being used for the projects comes from drivers themselves. 

"Look unfortunately the money comes out of speed camera revenue which is dedicated to going back to safer roads. No one likes to be pinged and pay those fines, but at least if you do get caught and you do pay that fine you understand the money is going back to Safer Roads Program,." he said.

Image ferrovial.com

Notorious black spots get funds

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Dozens of roads across the state are getting a much needed upgrade, including Maitland Vale Road in the Hunter.

Maitland Vale Road is a notorious black spot and it's been noticed by the Federal Government with a $775,000 funding injection announced to fix it.

The government is undertaking 52 black spot road projects throughout NSW under the Black Spot Project over the next 12 months. The government say the project reduces fatalities by 30 per cent and with 249 injury crashes across the 52 black spot projects, funding couldn't have come much sooner.

Federal Member for Lyne David Gillespie says the roads decided on for the black spot funding are based on risk and previous accidents and both fatality and serious injury numbers in the area.

"Road networks are so important because everyone travels them, road accidents can be fatal, the damage to individuals and families from road accidents is really distressing. The coalition government is committed to and have increased roads to recovery funding and black spot funding,"

"We would like to see better infrastructure cross Australia but we target in this program the most dangerous spots and it doesn't replace existing state government funding or council funding, its extra funds targeted at the most dangerous places," said Lyne MP David Gillespie.

NSW Government is still Fixing Country Roads

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The state government is still Fixing Country Roads throughout the Hunter region with the third round of funding under the program now open.

A further $100 million is now available for eligible councils to share in for upgrades to roads, bridges and truck washes.

The funding is aimed to go towards projects which local councils believe will deliver significant benefits to local communities. The funding is a part of a $543 million commitment for Fixing Country Roads from Rebuilding NSW.

Lake Macquarie, Cessnock, Maitland and Port Stephens Councils are all being encouraged to apply for a share in the funding with applications open until 1 September 2017.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says country roads need to be streamlined for efficiency to ensure the easy movement of freight in and out of regional areas well into the future.

"From the conversations I've had with council it's always a case of money and proritising and for me it's looking at where the trucks are running at the moment, where we need to have better connectivity for our freight network and where we can get more efficiency around that," said Scot MacDonald.

Double Demerits in action until Monday

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are urging drivers to slow down, stay safe and not to take risks on the Hunter's roads this long weekend, with double demerits in force until midnight on Monday.

Operation Stay Safe will see officers target speeding, seat belt, motorcycle helmet and phone use behind the wheel.

It's only June, but so far the death toll on NSW roads stands at 161.

Chief Inspector of Highway Patrol Phillip Brooks says the wet weather this week and heading into the weekend is making for particularly unfavourable conditions.

"We're urging all road users to please take extra care, we're expecting more traffic on our roads and with significant rainfall right throughout the NSW road network roads will be slippery - people approaching flooded causeways should pull over, wait for that flooded causeway to recede and continue safely on their journey."

Last year's June long weekend saw 131 people injured and four people lost their lives on the state's roads and police are determined that won't be the case come next week.

You may not think you're being watched on the weekend, but you certainly will be.

"We'll have all available 1,350 highway patrol staff and over 500 vehicles on our roads working very closely with general duty police performing speed enforcement, random breath testing and random drug testing all in an effort to drive down the road toll," said Chief Inspector Brooks.

Road Safety Grants

BY MICHAEL COOK and JESSICA ROUSE

The Hunter's roads could soon receive a welcome boost with applications opening shortly for the third round of the NSW Government's Community Road Safety Grants program.

Applications for this latest round of grants open on the 13th of June with community groups invited to submit their road safety projects by July 23.

Local organisations can apply for minor project funding up to $5,000 or more substantial projects of up to $30,000 with a total of $1.6 million available.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald is urging anyone who is interested to apply because who knows the roads better than those who use them on a daily basis.

"If you're on there everyday going to work and to school going to the shops, whatever you're doing, you're the person that sees where the shortfalls are and where we could do with a little bit of extra funding around that road."

"We're a pretty extensive road network so we're all busy catching up in that respect - there's a lot more traffic on the road, RMS are doing a good job of planning for the future but of course there's little projects that the community can identify and that's really what I'm looking for the community to think about," said Scot MacDonald.

'Bout time for Bucketts

BY RACHEL STORER

The Bucketts Way, the major thoroughfare from Newcastle to Gloucester, is set to receive $8 million in funding as part of the government's Fixing Country Roads program.

NSW Roads Minister Melinda Pavey made the announcement last night, and also earmarked $5.5 million for the replacement of the Clarence Town Bridge in Dungog, allowing for heavy freight to use the crossing.

The notorious Bucketts Way is riddled with blackspots and has been labelled as "deplorable" by Port Stephens Mayor, Bruce MacKenzie.

The money will be split between the Mid-Coast and Port Stephens councils for the road upgrades and work is expected to be completed by 2019.

Section of The Bucketts Way near Stroud. Image: ozroads.com.au

Swan Bay's dangerous roads

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington is backing residents frustration with the lack of attention from local council to fix unsafe roads in the area.

There are a number of unsealed roads throughout Port Stephens and particularly in Swan Bay, where Swan Bay Road is a major concern.

Residents are calling on Mayor Bruce Mackenzie to focus on fixing the backlog of roads in his council area, rather than championing a merger with Dungog promising $40 million to fix their backlog of damaged roads and bridges if a merger goes ahead.

Kate Washington has raised community concerns about unsealed roads in the past in Dunns Creek and Karuah, and has been told the roads weren't even on Council's 10 year forward work plans.

Swan bay residents have started a petition calling on council to do something about Swan Bay Road because it is particularly dangerous.

"I met with residents yesterday and they talked to me about the number of accidents they've seen and the people that they've picked out of the ditches and cars that have flipped on the side of the road, particularly on Swan Bay Road and the condition of the road is appalling," Kate Washington said.

Roads which remain unsealed in Port Stephens include:
- Swan Bay Rd, Swan Bay
- Dunns Creek Rd, Duns Creek
- Holdom Rd, Karuah
- Wighton St, Seaham
- Six Mile Creek Rd, Eagleton
- Clarence St, Wallalong

Fix the congestion, RMS: Mayor

Bob Pynsent

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

It’s only been a day since the opening of Frame Drive Bridge at Abermain on Wednesday, but Cessnock Council has already begun to hear complaints from residents over increased congestion on connector roads.

It’s prompted Council to call on Roads and Maritime Services to honour two-year-old conversations to improve safety on various connector roads.

“We do anticipate the return of traffic on Frame Drive Bridge will have a profound impact as it will again serve as a major connector road to and from the Hunter Expressway,” Mayor Bob Pynsent said.

“The bridge has been open barely a day and we’ve already got complaints about queuing to get through both these intersections.”

The intersection of Hart Road, Government Road and Gingers Lane has been flagged as of particular concern, with Cr Pynsent calling on RMS to do something about it.

He says a round-a-bout or traffic lights need to be installed at the intersection as well as the intersection of Hart Road and Frame Drive.

“RMS needs to follow up on the commitment they gave to assist Cessnock City Council in the safety concerns with the opening of Frame Drive Bridge,” Cr Pynsent said.

“We’ve been talking, but there hasn’t been one cent of a financial commitment at this point.”

Community anger about the increased congestion has been of particular interest to Council, with Cr Pynsent saying there were pre-emptive complaints before Wednesday’s opening.

“We had a series of complaints before we even opened Frame Drive Bridge yesterday.  The people have flagged this issue with us and that was existing before the bridge was damaged in the April storms,” he said.

“Now the bridge is opened, now is not the time to remain idle.  We are urging the NSW Government to make this a priority to ensure the safety of our road users,” Cr Pynsent said.

The Frame Drive Bridge was demolished in April 2015, after it was badly damaged during the superstorm that blew itself across the Hunter.

Significant improvement, including adding a second lane and constructing the bridge out of concrete led to assurances that the bridge would have a use life of at least 100 years.

School zones get flashing updates

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

SAFE: The upgrades will finish in March [Picture: NRMA]

The school year is kicking off for most of the Hunter’s schools and safety is once again a top concern for everyone.

And that is why four Newcastle schools will be having school zone flashing lights installed to help warm motorists that learning is afoot again

Beresfield, Maryland and Wallsend public schools and St Phillips Christian College Waratah have had flashing lights greenlit for

their zones, with works expected to be completed by early March.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery has welcomed the decision, saying it is a “great outcome” for the local schools.

“Some of the schools have been battling for the lights to be installed, as the roads they will be put on are major roads,” she said.

Anderson Drive, which is nearby Beresfield Public School was singled out by Ms Horenry as being a place where parents “have been pushing hard” to get flashing lights.

“There are more school zones that need flashing lights and I will continue to work hard to have those sites included,” Ms Hornery said.

As a former school teacher, Ms Hornery has used the announcement as a “timely reminder that school zones are back in place”.

“Please make sure you slow down around school zones during school zone times,” she said.

Night Works on Swansea Bridge

Roads and Maritime Services will be conducting roadworks from Sunday evening along the Pacific Highway, at Swansea.

The resurfacing work will be done on the southbound lanes of Swansea Bridge for three nights from January 31.

Work will be conducted between 8pm and 4.30am, with southbound traffic diverted onto the northbound brdige, via contra flow.

Weather permitting, works should be completed by February 7.

During work hours, a reduced, 40 km/h speed limit will be enforced to minimise risk for both workers and motorists.

Additional information can be found on www.livetraffic.com.  Motorists can also download the Live Traffic App for smartphones, or call the Transport Management Centre on 132 701.

Image courtesy of Matthew Fern, via Flickr (LINK).

Raymond Terrace road upgrade

Motorists traveling between Thornton and Maitland can expect a safer journey thanks to an upgrade to Raymond Terrace road

Work on a $3.1million upgrade began yesterday and will include improvements such as median stripes and safety barriers

The upgrade is expected to be completed by October, in the mean time motorist should expect delays and a reduced speed limit during work hours.


Work will be carried out between 7am and 6pm weekdays and 8am and 1pm on Saturdays

Hunter cyclists on ride of their lives on overpass

HUNTER cyclists are calling on better safety provisions on the New England Highway, as they struggle to navigate a 10 cenimetre shoulder of the Tarro railway overpass.

The link has been improved since a fatal crash killed 57 year-old WALLSEND cyclist Neil Smith last August, but those who regularly use the road say it's the bridge itself, not the approach that needs fixing.

The Roads and Maritime Services have installed "rumble strips" on the fog lines, reduced the speed limit to 80km/h and posted large fluorescent signs promoting awareness of cyclists.

Soil and grass has been removed from the edge of the road to increase the usable shoulder.The RMS have not ruled out building a sperate bridge.

Bernard Hockings from the Newcastle Cycleway said the solution wouldn't have to be so drastic. "Find an off-road route for cyclists because even with a wider shoulder you're still looking at 20 tonne vechiles going along at 100km/h, a metre away from a bicyle," he said.