Smiths Gap overtaking lane project hurting business, danger for motorists

Lost business, potential traffic collisions and a “homemade” signage effort has left a Cassowary Coast business owner frustrated by the Smiths Gap roadworks. And she has some grim warnings ahead of the project’s completion.

A HIGHWAY-based Cassowary Coast business owner is pleading with a contractor for better roadworks management due to fears the current flow of traffic could shut her business within months or cause a crash.

Pocket Produce owner Leah Pierotti’s store is located on the Bruce Highway south of El Arish, inside the construction zone of the $13.8m Smiths Gap overtaking lane and fauna crossing project.

Ms Pierotti says during the last month of construction, southbound traffic queuing for the roadworks had been blocking her driveway – halving her business intake while also posing threats for motorists.

She says she had requested Townsville-based contractor RMS Engineering to provide signs warning motorists of her driveway, to which the firm erected a small sign, less than 5m from the entrance.

Pocket Produce owner Leah Pierotti's cafe and store is located on the Bruce Highway just south of El Arish, next to the current works on the Smith's Gap overtaking lane and wildlife overpass. As a result of the roadworks, she says her business is being heavily impacted. PICTURE: ARUN SINGH MANN

MORE NEWS

How much asset disposal will save ratepayers

Coast leaders divided on NQ bubble proposal

‘My livelihood’: Tools stolen from crash

“You’ve got semis and caravans blocking that driveway all the time,” Ms Pierotti said.

“The sign they (RMS) put up looks like a homemade job, and it’s too small. By the time anyone sees it, it’s too late.

“And the work is due to go on until January (2021).

“Well, I probably won’t be open here if something isn’t done, because quite literally my takings show that the days they’re working, which they work a nine-day fortnight, my takings in the shop have halved.”

Ms Pierotti said a regular coffee customer who would head north in the mornings had admitted he’d bypassed her store three times in the last week.

“He said ‘coming down the range I saw all this traffic, saw a semi parked across your driveway,’ so he didn’t bother. So I’m missing out on a lot of business.”

Pocket Produce owner Leah Pierotti's cafe and store is located on the Bruce Highway just south of El Arish, next to the current works on the Smith's Gap overtaking lane and wildlife overpass. As a result of the roadworks, she says her business is being heavily impacted. PICTURE: ARUN SINGH MANN

She said the queuing traffic was also creating hazards for motorists.

“If you’re here and you’ve bought a coffee, now you want to head north … you can’t get through, you’ve got to wait here for the flow of traffic to start.

“And then if you are lucky enough to sneak between a couple of cars … I had one of my regular customers pull out in front of a (northbound) semi the other day, because you can’t see the oncoming traffic.

“Just down the road there are skid marks from semis locking the breaks and I’ve seen cars veer off because they can’t slow down. There is going to be an accident before this job is finished. It’s only a matter of time.

“It’s a simple fix, all I’m asking from RMS is a large sign, with large font to say ‘keep driveway clear’, with enough notice, not 5m off the driveway.”

A Department of Transport spokeswoman said the department was aware of Ms Pierotti’s concerns.

“The contractor has installed ‘Keep Driveway Clear’ signs and bollards to improve the visibility of the Pocket Produce access.

“The contractor has also ordered and will install further signs to highlight the access.”

Originally published as Smiths Gap overtaking lane project hurting business, danger for motorists