Motorists fear the number of B-doubles using Edward Street is creating a serious hazard, prompting calls for a heavy vehicle bypass through Lake Albert’s outskirts. 

Freight truck driver Dean Cunningham believes the repercussions of a southern bypass would be a “small price to pay” to prevent a fatality.

“In a perfect world we’d just have a route that doesn’t disrupt anybody and keeps the heavy vehicles off the suburban streets,” he said.

“Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be plausible.

“I feel for the people who it would affect – I really do – but it’s just the price to pay for safety.” 

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 truckie Bunny Brown said it would alleviate Wagga’s traffic issues and reduce travel time for interstate drivers.

“Drivers just want to get from point to point as quick as they can,” Mr Brown said.

“That half hour could mean a chance to get home, have a shower and see your family.

“We don’t want to be in towns unless we can help it because stopping and starting costs you in fuel and time.”

A Daily Advertiser survey of roughly 500 residents found just 14 per cent of recipients were against the establishment of a bypass.