RESIDENTS of communities along the state’s major north-south road corridor are being asked to sign a petition to keep the highway’s 110 kilometre per hour speed limit intact.
Former NSW roads minister, Duncan Gay wants the highway users and nearby residents to take part in pre-emptive action to stop any future moves to cut the speed limit.
While Mr Gay says the current government has no plans to reduce the highway’s speed limit, he wants a clear message to people who may take office in the future and has mailed out a petition to households in communities along the highways with the intention that its results will keep up the pressure for the status quo.
Mr Gay was the longest-serving NSW coalition roads minister who delivered a re-election promise in 2011 to return the 110km/h limit that had been dropped to 100km/h by the previous Labor government in 2009.
“One of my proudest achievements was working with the community to reinstate the 110km/h limit on the Newell Highway, making it safer to overtake and reduce fatigue for county drivers,” Mr Gay said.
“Join our campaign to make sure future governments don’t cut the speed limit again.”
Some 16 new overtaking lanes have been constructed since the coalition took office and there are an additional $58 million in this year’s budget for more upgrades to the Newell.
Member for Barwon, Kevin Humphries, has just announced a major package of roadwork improvements on the highway between Narrabri and Coonabarabran.
Two new overtaking lanes will be built with the $7.2 million allocation and work will commence in August.
“The work will include an additional southbound and northbound overtaking lane to the section of road in the Pillliga,” Mr Humphries said.
