Lismore’s outgoing mayor Jenny Dowell has delivered a blistering attack on the Roads and Maritime Services for failing to provide adequate signage to Lismore on the Pacific Highway.
Cr Dowell said the Lismore City Council had been lobbying the state government department for 18 months to have Lismore included on the green highway sign near the the Ewingsdale exit.
‘We were supposed to meet in June and that was postponed until late June when I was away in America,’ she told Echonetdaily.
‘That meeting was cancelled and I was told Bob Higgins, the general manager of the Pacific Highway upgrade, would call but he didn’t.’
‘When I got back from the states I sent an email and was told Mr Higgins was on extended leave and was not due back until the end of September.
Cr Dowell said council staff had been told that the two people acting for Mr Higgins during his absence did not have the authority to make a decision about signage.
‘I am really cross about this,’ Cr Dowell said.
‘Now it looks like there will not be a decision until Christmas.’
Cr Dowell said Mr Higgins had given her an undertaking that he would come up with suggestions for improved signage before he went away but instead the RMS was simply taking traffic counts on the Bangalow Road.
‘Now they’re saying that they won’t consider this until they have the results of those traffic counts,’ she said.
‘This has been going on for 18 months and (Nationals MP) Thomas George knows about it so it’s important for the state to also give this a push.
Meanwhile, a petition set up by Greens mayoral candidate Vanessa Ekins has garnered 435 signatures.
The petition calls on the state government to erect ‘clear and permanent signage on the southbound lanes on all approaches and exits on the upgraded Pacific Highway.
‘Locals, their friends, family and tourists are getting lost and confused as the current temporary signage is inadequate,’ the petition says.
‘Lismore is the regional centre and should be sign posted on every exit route option. We would like to see the RMS address the issue by including Lismore on the exit signs at Ewingsdale.’
The petition can be found here.
Bangalow does not want more Lismore traffic going through it. Why spend almost $1b on the motorway yet still divert Lismore traffic down a back road through residential areas of Bangalow, Clunes and Bexhill? Keep Lismore traffic on the motorway and then on the Bruxner Highway.
Give Bangalow some effective traffic amelioration such as extended 50kph limit along Lismore Rd, speed cameras and better roundabout marking before signposting Lismore at Ewingsdale. RMS is reviewing its Lismore to Bangalow strategy – let’s first get it finished and approved by the community.
The most direct route to Lismore is via Bangalow, via the top roundabout. (Maybe travellers will stop and spend money in Bangalow, Clunes or Bex Hill). It’s logical to have signage directing Lismore traffic via Bangalow, Clunes and Bex Hill.
The Bruxner highway needs an upgrade. Especially past wollongbar. Goonellabah needs a bypass as well. If those are done the Bruxner highway option will be quicker than Bangalow to lismore road. I hate the windy road and 50 zones at bexhill and clunes. As soon as the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale upgrade opened I always use that option to go north.
People should try for themselves driving to Lismore from the Pacific Highway via the southern-most Ballina exit and the Bruxner Highway. Faster, safer and spares Bangalow, Clunes and Bexhill from through traffic. Lismore-Bangalow Road is a dangerous death-trap. If you don’t need to go to the villages along the way, do yourself and everyone else a favour, go on the Bruxner Highway. And save at least 10 minutes.
Firstly Bexhill is one word. Living north of Bangalow to get to Lismore i always travel via Bangalow. My 2nd choice going south would be to go via Tinterbar & exit at Alstonville to access the Bruxner Highway.
Travelling is not always about time. Have been travelling these roads since the early 1940’s. In those days they were red dirt roads. Slow down & enjoy the scenery.