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Long wait finally over for upgrades to Abermain intersections

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After a decade of campaigning, Abermain residents – and Cessnock state MP Clayton Barr – finally have something to cheer about.

Transport for NSW recently announced $3.7 million upgrades to intersections at Orange and Charles streets, under the Road Safety Program.

The project, jointly-funded by the Australian and NSW governments, will improve safety, particularly for motorists turning right out of Orange Street and for pedestrians crossing Cessnock Road.

It includes:

  • Installing traffic lights at Orange Street, which include pedestrian crossings
  • Road widening along the southern side of Cessnock Road
  • Providing right turn lanes into Orange Street and Charles Street, which improves traffic flow for motorists continuing through on Cessnock Road
  • Extending the left turning lane from Charles Street onto Cessnock Road
  • Building a concrete island to separate the left turn lane into Charles Street, which will improve sight lines for motorists turning onto Cessnock Road
  • Road resurfacing and installing new line marking, including “Keep Clear” markings
  • Minor relocation of the bus stop on the southern side of the road
  • Building sections of concrete kerb and footpath

Mr Barr was thrilled with the news.

“It’s fantastic to see it happening,” he said.

“Ten years ago, when I first became an MP, I was quickly made aware of the dangers at the pedestrian crossing right there on the corner of Orange Street and Cessnock Road.

“There were countless stories of car crashes and near-misses [for pedestrians].

“It was described to me then that it was ‘only a matter of time before someone gets killed’.”

Abermain Public School’s road safety proposal poster in 2011.

While he fought hard for the changes, himself, Mr Barr admitted pupils from Abermain Public School (APS) deserved a lot of credit, too.

“I had only been an MP for six months when I got a call to attend a 5/6 class at APS to discuss that pedestrian crossing and corner,” he said.

“Off the back of that, the students made an incredible poster with photos and explanations of the distractions and dangers that make that whole intersection so unsafe.

“I sent that work through to the Roads Minister (at the time) and asked him to meet with the youngsters.

“In the end, the Minister didn’t meet with the students but someone from the RMS did.

“For 10 years, I have been raising this issue with the RMS (now Transport for NSW) on three or four occasions every 12 months.

“I wasn’t going to be silent on a problem that had existed for a long time and continued to exist.”

Mr Barr said he always wanted to honour the students from Abermain Public School as well.

“Once the Hunter Expressway opened, that corner became so much busier and so much more dangerous,” he added.

“A solution was needed more than ever.

“I am absolutely thrilled that the work is finally going to be done to make this section of road so much safer for pedestrians and drivers.

“In the coming months and years, I would hope that those students from Year 5/6 at APS, way back in 2011, who are now in their early 20s, will take pride in their work and their voices that went a long way toward this great result.

“And, I thank their teacher at the time, Mrs Kylie Hill, who empowered those young people to have their voices heard by a local politician.”

Transport for NSW will start work from Sunday 12 September, with crews working between 6.30pm and 4.30am from Sunday to Thursday.

The project is expected to be completed by April 2022, weather permitting.

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