While recent police reports confirm the number of accidents on Hunter roads is down, a group of Weston residents are concerned about the increase of heavy vehicles using local roads.
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Police have confirmed that crashes resulting in injury on Hunter roads have dropped by 20 per cent this year compared with the same period in 2013 – a figure attributed to largely to the Hunter Expressway.
However residents of First Street, Weston, say that the increase in traffic using their road since March has been exponential, with trucks and buses causing a big headache.
Mary Bourke only moved to the area a year ago said that the traffic has more than doubled since March, particularly the amount of semi-trailers using the road.
She said she has also noticed more accidents and that the speeding drivers have also become a major problem.
“I have written to our local members but I have been advised that there are no plans to lower the speed limit or install a speed camera,” she said.
“The Hunter Expressway is an excellent road and a pleasure to use.
“Unfortunately I don’t think any thought was given to the residents of the local roads that are being affected as the traffic gets off at Kurri.”
Mrs. Bourke said that the vehicles traveling from Cessnock and the vineyard areas would have previously used the link to Freeman’s Waterhole to travel south.
Now she said they are using the expressway, but the only access to the same area is through Kurri, and through First Street.
A Roads and Maritime Services spokesperson confirmed that the RMS has been monitoring traffic across the broader road network including on First Street since the opening of the Hunter Expressway.
Two intersections were upgraded on First Street at Weston in 2010 (First and Station Street, First and Government Road) to improve traffic flow and increase turning safety for all road users.
Doug Buckman has lived on First Street for more than 50 years and said that this is the worst he has ever seen it.
He said that residents have petitioned council before to have the speed limit reduced and to have the intersection improved, but said that the works carried out in 2010 have done little to combat the issue.
“It is a terrible intersection,” he said.
“It is bad for cars and it is bad for pedestrians.
“It is just not cut out for the type of traffic using the roads now.
“The road is still made of concrete.
“That was supposed to be upgraded years ago.”
The RMS is expected to complete their traffic analysis in the coming months with the community to be informed of the results.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Has traffic increased on your road since the expressway opened? Leave your comment below.
