Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison is demanding the NSW Government acts quickly to decrease road congestion and increase driver safety following changes to traffic near the new Maitland Hospital.
The $470 million project at Metford, which began main works in late 2019, will be the latest facility to meet growing health service needs for the Hunter Valley now and into the future.
Due to open in early 2022, it’ll offer a wider range of services with significantly more beds and treatment spaces; and include emergency care, chemotherapy chairs, surgical services, critical care, maternity services, paediatric care, cardiac catheterisation, inpatient beds, mental health, rehabilitation services and outpatient clinics.
But, in recent weeks, Ms Aitchison’s office has received numerous telephone calls, emails, videos and social media messages highlighting heavy traffic, delays and dangerous conditions on roads associated with works at Metford.
As a result, she’ll deliver a Notice of Motion today (Wednesday 10 February) in the Parliament of NSW, insisting the NSW Government reconsiders Maitland City Council’s (MCC) request to have Metford Road reclassified as a state road.
MCC nominated Metford Road under the state government’s Road Classification and Transfer project, however was advised by Transport for NSW that the project was not selected to progress to the priority round.
Metford Road has been heavily-impacted by the changes – and conditions have already resulted in accidents.
“It is ridiculous that a major arterial route between two state roads, which will form the main thoroughfare for staff, patients, visitors and others attending the new Maitland Hospital, remains in the hands of local government,” Ms Aitchison said.
She added it was yet another example of the NSW Government failing to deliver on needed infrastructure in Maitland.
“They’ve failed to acknowledge the city of Maitland’s population growth and the need for its infrastructure to keep pace,” Ms Aitchison said.
“The NSW Liberals and Nationals built half a roundabout on a major connection to Cessnock and between the western and eastern sides of the city, failed to finish the bridge duplication at Thornton Railway Station, and the mess at Thornton between the New England Highway and Raymond Terrace Road is long overdue, and is forcing commuters to use Metford Road.”
Ms Aitchison said the safety of Maitland drivers was paramount.
“If someone dies, it will be on the head of the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads who has been advised of the urgency of these issues,” she stated.
“I demand that the NSW Government reconsiders Maitland City Council’s request for it to reclassify Metford Road as a state road as a matter of urgency.”
