A DANGEROUS length of road at Guanna Hill could receive $56 million worth of realignments and other improvements as part of a state election promise from the Nationals.
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The 7.2-kilometre stretch between Orange and Molong will be straightened, levelled and widened to two lanes, featuring sealed shoulders and extra overtaking lanes.
Deputy Premier Troy Grant, Roads Minister Duncan Gay and member for Orange Andrew Gee met with landowners on the Mitchell Highway to make the announcement.
The road has killed one person and injured 33 since 2005.
Mr Gee said the issue was first raised four years ago in what he described as “the meeting where everyone had pitchforks out,” at the nearby Rural Fire Service station, and resurfacing work and a right-turn bay into Strathmore Lane had already improved safety.
“Everyone was very angry about the state of this road and even though we didn’t have a whole lot of money in the kitty in March 2011, Duncan still found money to do some improvements,” he said.
“This has been a real black spot for decades.”
The additional expenditure will hinge on the election outcome, however, Mr Gay said it was not a bribe, it was a choice.
“[Residents] get hit because they’re locals who use the local road, but they also get hit because they’re either part of the volunteer bushfire brigade or they’re first on the scene for accident so it becomes a double trauma, they worry about their families but they also have to interact with accident victims,” he said.
“It’s certainly left a mark on this community.”
He expected the tendering process to take about a year before work could start, with completion expected in two years’ time.
Boomey Rural Fire Brigade member Ian Toynton said at one stage, five accidents occurred in three months.
“The brigade used to come across some terrible things,” he said.
danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au
