More than 300 people, including local residents, patrons of the Heddon Greta Hotel and parents of school bus commuters signed the petition in a matter of three days; with organisers Jenny Dimmock and Alison Greif saying people were very keen to see a change.

“They were all so keen and so relieved that someone was trying to do something,” Ms. Dimmock said.

“In obtaining these signatures it was obvious that the residents were relieved that someone was trying to do something about the intersection and most people voiced their concerns,” Ms. Greif said.

The main concern voiced was safety, as the women said that traffic has vastly increased since the opening of the Hunter Expressway a year ago, including more large trucks travelling in both directions. 

The intersection sits in close proximity to two bus stops and the Heddon Greta Hotel, making it a busy area for drivers and pedestrians alike.

Ms. Greif said that school children often take risks crossing Main Road in order to get across in time to catch their school bus.

“A parent witnessed a near miss when a child darted across the road in front of an oncoming cement truck to catch their school bus,” she said.

Another concern is for parents with prams, as well as people with disabilities and the elderly who cross the road regularly to catch public transport, access services and visit relatives nearby.

“It’s fraught for danger,” Ms. Dimmock said.

“It’s imperative that something is done before a child gets hit or there is a fatal accident,” Ms. Greif added.

Another safety concern was for drivers looking to turn right from Main Road on to Young Street who fear being hit from behind as there is no right-hand turning lane, and due to heavy oncoming traffic it can take a while to get through.

The ladies said turning on to Main Road from Young street is another issue as cars parked in front of the pub create a blind spot, meaning motorists are forced to edge out on to the road, diminishing the area between vehicles stopped and traffic on the main road.

Roads and Maritime Services has recorded four crashes at the intersection in the last five years, one of which occurred after the expressway opened.

But Ms. Greif said she has heard of at least two crashes that have occurred at the intersection since the opening of the expressway. 

An added distress is that Young Street also contains several potholes and gravel at the entrance to Main Road, increasing danger when entering into a small gap in traffic. 

Along with safety concerns, Ms. Dimmock and Ms. Greif said increased traffic on Main Road has caused bank-ups of cars on the feeder streets, increasing the time spent waiting to access the busy road.

The women believe that traffic lights at the intersection would solve these issues, and have raised the concerns of the residents with council, federal Member for Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon and state Member for Cessnock Clayton Barr.

Mr. Barr said he has received a number of complaints regarding the intersection and has raised them with Roads and Maritime Services.

He said he encourages and welcomes a petition as “it all helps to generate attention and focus”.

A Roads and Maritime Services spokesperson said there are no current plans to make changes at the intersection.

The spokesperson said RMS will continue to monitor the traffic flow and safety in the area and welcome feedback from the community about road safety concerns.