An improved and more efficient project plan that will see results sooner has started to take shape at Moonan Flat this week with the planned start of investigative and stabilisation work to the treacherous Moonan cutting.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The cutting on Hunter Road 51 kilometres north east of Scone and one kilometre south west of Moonan Flat has long been hailed one of the most dangerous in the Upper Hunter Shire road network and has been the subject of council investigations for some time.
The road is a heavily used thoroughfare for residents living in the east of the shire and is greatly used by B Double trucks and other larger vehicles.
There are also four school bus movements through the cutting each day.
Work started this week on upgrading the cutting to make it safer for vehicles to pass, with investigation work and preparation of the river bank.
With an original plan to spend $50,000 on the cutting throughout a period of five years tossed out by the council, a new strategy to complete the $750,000 upgrade much sooner has been initiated.
The first stage is to stabilise the bottom side river bank with concrete which costs about $300,000, and a further $450,000 has been allocated in the council’s 2015-2016 budget to carry out the reconfiguration of the cutting face on the top side of the road.
Upper Hunter Shire deputy mayor Maurice Collison said the changes to the big plan will see the upgrades completed a lot quicker.
“We’re hoping to gain a bit of extra space on the river side of the road and then cut into the rock side as well,” he said.
“It is one of the most dangerous cuttings in the shire, and although I am only aware of one major fatal accident at the site, I’m sure there have been a lot of near misses.
“My goal is to prevent the fatalities, so I’m pleased to see the upgrade begin.
“We don’t want to be able to do 100km/hr through the cutting, we just want a clear line of sight.
“The important thing is, is that we do it once and do it properly so we don’t have to come back to it.”
All motorists are reminded to take care when travelling through the cutting as the road will be reduced to a single lane and there will be short delays.
Signage and speed limits will be in place.
For more information, contact the council’s project manager Simon Boulton on 6540 1167 or email council@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
