By Jess Baker
Months of safety works on the New England Highway have come to an end, but some locals are adamant the road is not only an accident waiting to happen; it’s a fatality waiting to happen.
On Tuesday 17 August, after almost a year of roadworks, Assistant Regional Roads Minister Bruce Saunders said the $19.4 million project had successfully delivered safety treatments on four sections of the road between Stanthorpe and Ballandean.
“These works included widening the road to install a centre line and safer turning conditions at key intersections, clearing vegetation to improve visibility, culvert extensions and replacements, road repairs and new line marking,” Mr Saunders said.
“These treatments increase the safety for all road users and the communities next to the New England Highway.”
Mr Saunders said the project had been challenging for several reasons, but the “final touches” of the project had been completed.
Just days prior to the release of Mr Saunders’ statement, Stanthorpe and Granite Belt Chamber of Commerce President Graham Parker said he met with some Queensland Transport and Main Roads representatives to discuss the state of the highway.
Mr Parker said the TMR representatives spent more than three hours driving up and down the highway, compiling a list of defects.
“TMR acknowledge that this is a safety concern, they just need to – or the contractors need to – get something done with it,” he said.
“All I can do is make a lot of noise.”
Mr Parker said of most concern to him was that the road had actually begun to ‘disintegrate’ after recent rain, and driving along it had become a safety risk.
“As recently as yesterday, I was going into town and I stopped and I had to pick up one of the big black rubber bases from the bollard,” he said.
“So what used to be nine bollards is now three because they just have been hit by cars … on a federal highway. And there’s smashed bits of plastic everywhere.
“Someone’s going to die on that highway. It’s going to happen.”
Mr Parker said he would not rest until the New England Highway was safe.
A TMR spokesperson said the road-widening project on the road south of Stanthorpe was completed last month, however the contractor will still have to carry out repairs “if or when they are identified”.
“There have been several identified and we are working with the contractors to ensure they are repaired appropriately,” the spokesperson said.
“Once the contracted repairs are completed, we will resume regular monitoring of the area under its routine maintenance program.”
