Quick action on hwy needed: Stoner

A 28-year-old North Coast man died after his car collided head-on with a truck at Warrell Creek, a stretch of road which NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner is pushing to be upgraded as soon as possible.

MORE than 30 lives have been lost on the deadly stretch of Pacific Highway between Ballina and Grafton since 2005, and the Coalition wants it to end.

NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner has outlined his plan to fast-track the $46 million Frederickton to Eungai stage of the Pacific Highway upgrade, which includes the stretch of road that claimed the life of a 28-year-old man, believed to be from Alstonville, on Tuesday.

Twenty-eight people have died on the highway between Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie since 2005.

“Too many families are being torn apart by the tragedies that occur on this particularly dangerous stretch of the Pacific Highway,” Mr Stoner said.

But it’s the highway’s infamous fatigue zone south of Ballina that has claimed even more lives over the past six years. In 2007 10 people were killed on the stretch of road, and in January this year a 16-year-old from Woodburn was killed at Tabbimoble.

Mr Stoner confirmed he and Minister for Roads Duncan Gay would be pushing to have the entire highway upgraded “as soon as possible”.

“The Federal Government last year committed to a 2016 completion date for the Pacific Highway upgrade and weapplaud that,” he said.

“Duncan Gay and I will be making a strong case to Julia Gillard and Anthony Alban- ese for the Federal Government to give the Pacific Highway, one of Australia’s busiest and most deadly roads, the funding it desperately needs.”

NRMA Motoring and Services president Wendy Machin suggested installing interim safety measures, like tension wires.

“They have said all the right things in terms of fast-tracking it and that’s good, but we have to make sure the other parts can be made as safe in the interim,” she said.

State member for Clarence Steve Cansdell said it was imperative the entire upgrade was fast-tracked.

“Yes, we do need to get the black spots done, but we need to make sure we have the funding, the commitment and the will, which have been shown from the state and federal governments, to get on with it and get it done,” he said.