Residents of Gingers Lane and its surrounding streets at Weston are calling for immediate action at a busy intersection near the Hunter Expressway after three accidents in a nine-day period.
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Crashes occurred at the intersection of Hart Road, Government Road, Gingers Lane and Sawyers Gully Road on April 18, 20 and 26.
Karl and Maria Bruce and Leeanne Lillyman were involved in a four-car crash at the intersection around 4.30pm April 20.
A van crossing from Hart Road to Gingers Lane collided with a car travelling towards Sawyers Gully on Government Road.
The impact forced the van onto the bonnet of Mr and Ms Bruce’s car, pushing their vehicle into Ms Lillyman’s behind them.
“We can’t believe we survived,” Mr Bruce said.
“Something needs to be done before someone gets killed… it’s extremely dangerous.”
There has been a huge increase in traffic on these connecting roads since the Hunter Expressway opened in March 2014.
Transport for NSW recorded four casualty crashes within 10 metres of the intersection from 2012 to 2016, resulting in four people being injured, including one seriously.
The Centre for Road Safety only reports on crashes in which at least one person was killed or injured, or in which at least one vehicle was towed away.
Residents say there have been many more accidents that would not have been recorded, and they fear it will take a death before something is done.
“It’s disgusting that it would take a death to escalate it – we shouldn’t have to wait for that,” the Bruces’ daughter, Katie Turkington said.
The NSW Government allocated $4 million in 2017 to go towards improvements on roads that feed into the Hunter Expressway.
Cessnock MP Clayton Barr said this will allow a whole host of road improvements to be made, with that work being done by Cessnock Council, using State funding.
Traffic lights, lowering the speed limit and moving the school bus stop are among the solutions residents would like to see implemented.
“We don’t want a band-aid fix,” Ms Lillyman said.
Ward C councillor Melanie Dagg will table a motion of urgency regarding short-term and long-term solutions for the intersection to Wednesday night’s council meeting.
“A prevention and a cure is what we need to look at,” Cr Dagg said.
Cr Dagg will ask that council immediately correspond with various State and Federal representatives to seek support and actively pursue any and all funding available to fast-track the redevelopment of the intersection.
The motion will ask council’s traffic engineers to urgently investigate the intersection and its various approaches, and to investigate the location of the school bus stop.
Cr Dagg will also request that council write to the Police Minister and the Hunter Valley Local Area Command to ask for more police in the area and mobile speed cameras.
Mr Barr said he has been working with the Minister for Roads and Roads and Maritime Services to ensure that everyone understands the traffic impacts as a result of the Hunter Expressway.
“There is no doubt that the number of cars using this intersection has dramatically increased since the opening of the Hunter Expressway and that is why the State has a role to play in funding the solution, even though the roads involved are actually classified as Local roads, not State roads,” he said.
Mr Barr encourages any residents concerned by the state of the intersection to write to him at PO Box 242, Cessnock 2325.
“There is no doubt that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and so the more people that raise a concern, the better,” he said.
A Transport for NSW spoksperson said intersections can be some of the most dangerous road environments as there are a greater number of potential conflict points for vehicles when compared to other road types.
“Drivers and pedestrians at intersections can be particularly vulnerable to right angle or T-bone crashes which can often have devastating outcomes,” the spokesperson said.
“T-bone crashes between two vehicles often occur at high speed and can expose drivers and passengers to increased risk of death and serious injury.
“At non-signalised intersections, it is important slow down and be prepared to give way to other vehicles. It is always recommended that drivers proceed with caution.”
