
A regular traveller on the Old Gunnedah road has called for a campaign to upgrade the single lane Tarriaro bridge as traffic volumes grow.
His call to The Courier last week came after a ‘near miss’ as he was approaching the bridge.
“I am familiar with the bridge, but the other driver coming towards Narrabri evidently was not” he said.
“My expectation that he would pull over as I was almost across the bridge was not met and we very nearly had a head on collision.”
The incident has highlighted an issue which has been concerning users of the route.
A letter from another regular user of the bridge tabled at the May shire council meeting echoed other motorists’ concerns and asked the council to “look into the dangers of the current set up for giving way onto the Tarriaro Bridge.”
“Drivers are continually NOT giving way entering the bridge from the Narrabri side”, the writer said.
“My son has already had an accident because of a lady not giving way, was nearly put in the river, hit from behind, and only two weeks ago a similar thing happened but luckily no accident.
“I believe the signage is appropriate by regulations, but it is still not enough.
“This busy road has many non locals travelling on it.
“The skid marks on the road are enough evidence as to what has been going on..a major accident is waiting to happen.”
Double yellow lines on the approaches to the bridge indicate ‘no overtaking’ but for the many people unfamiliar with the route, at night, the width of the bridge is not readily apparent.
“This road is now effectively a Kamilaroi highway bypass” another commented. “The volume of fast traffic is growing and at certain times of the day it is like Pitt Street.
“I have seen two near misses, with people coming from Narrabri heading south.
“And I have seen so many brake lights come on at the last minute and seen vehicles swerve to the left.
“The Tarriaro bridge has to be upgraded into a two lane bridge.
“The nature of the traffic usage of this road is not what it was when the bridge was built in 1975, not what it was five years ago and certainly not nowadays with the increasing mine, farming and other traffic.”
Narrabri Shire Council voted at the May meeting to re-instate warning signs at the approaches, after some had been removed or stolen, and to have Reduce Speed signs installed.