Truck drivers and residents are calling for a heavy vehicle bypass of the city, saying there’s a disaster waiting to happen.
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More than 1000 trucks travelling between Adelaide and Sydney drive straight through the middle of Wagga every day, according to official figures, creating headaches for truckies and residents alike.
Wagga inventor Warren Tyson said the number of trucks using Edward Street were a massive risk.
“We shouldn’t have to wait for a disaster to occur, we should take steps to prevent it,” Mr Tyson said.
“Millions of dollars of freight and produce go through the middle of the city and it’s an accident waiting to happen. Wagga’s the only country city in Australia where this happens, even in Sydney the trucks don’t have to deal with traffic lights on their way to Botany Bay.”
A heavy vehicle bypass was critical, according to Committee 4 Wagga chair Judy Galloway, who said the city was lagging behind its neighbours.
“Albury’s had a bypass for some time and even Temora’s talking about one,” she said.
“It’s a major concern to see the number of trucks go past the hospital and the school – it’s a huge impost on people’s safety.
“We’ve been talking about it for a very long time but growth has overtaken us, it’s badly needed by the Wagga community but also the trucking community.”
Council’s latest draft of the widely-debated Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS) includes a plan to preserve a southern corridor of land for a future bypass, based on Committee4Wagga’s plan.
If built, trucks would be able to divert south along Churches Plain Road, crossing the Olympic Highway south of Kapooka and continuing east between Gelston Park and Springvale, before rejoining the Sturt Highway at Alfredtown.
Veteran truck driver Bunny Brown said the bypass would get a lot of use, because travelling through the city could take about half an hour of valuable travel time.
“Drivers just want to get from point to point as quick as they can, that half hour could mean a chance to get home, have a shower and see your family,” Mr Brown said.
“We don’t want to be in towns unless we can help it, stopping and starting costs you in fuel and time.”
Wagga mayor Greg Conkey encouraged people to have their say on the ITS by going to www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/wwits.
“Thank you to the hundreds of people that have already contributed in some form during the extensive consultation process,” Cr Conkey said.
“This is your last chance to review the strategy and have your say before it goes back to council, so make sure you check it out and make a submission before the end of June.”