Crash renews calls for action on Pacific Hwy

ACCIDENT at Pacific Hwy roundabout south of Coffs Harbour sees calls for a review of safety measures.

Veteran truck driver Bob 'Mad Dog' Conn says something has to be done about the notorious Englands Rd roundabout. . Picture: Trevor Veale

"IF they don't make changes to this bloody roundabout, someone's going to get killed there soon."

That's the opinion of veteran truck driver Bob 'Mad Dog' Conn.

The Bonville driver with 33 years behind the wheel has been concerned for a long time about the Pacific Hwy roundabout that intersects with Englands Rd and Stadium Dr.

Those concerns were heightened when a driver of a B-double truck was unable to navigate safely through the roundabout in the early hours of Thursday.

As the Roads and Maritime Services investigation into the incident continues, Mr Conn said he was not the only truckie with serious concerns about the roundabout.

"I was talking to four drivers and they said the truck drivers are talking about a blockade down there to highlight the issue," he said.

He said the roundabout's design needed changing to improve its safety.

Mr Conn suggested lowering the level of the roundabout's concrete border, reducing the amount of bank or camber on the road, as well as decreasing its size.

The retired truck driver believes these measures need to be implemented sooner rather than later.

"If a truck tips over and there's a car with a family next to it, not only is there is going to be a tragedy with people dying but the driver is going to be charged with manslaughter," he said.

"That roundabout has the potential to destroy so many lives - but it doesn't need to be that way."

A review of safety measures has been backed by the wider community, including Coffs Harbour MP Andrew Fraser.

Mr Fraser said options could include reducing the roundabout to one lane.

"It's difficult for two trucks to safely get through that roundabout at the same time and I've made representation to RMS and the Minister for Roads that it should be reduced in size," Mr Fraser said.

"The number of trucks that have tipped on their side clearly indicates that until we have a bypass, an interim solution is needed."

The proposed Coffs Harbour bypass would shift traffic away from the roundabout by connecting the Pacific Hwy south of Coffs Harbour to Korora.

The State Government has committed $200million for the project, but the Federal Government is yet to match that under a 20-80 arrangement.

Coffs Harbour Mayor Denise Knight said increased traffic pressures demanded the byway's construction.

Her assessment is backed by Bureau of Infrastructure figures that predict by 2030, 19,380 vehicles each day will travel on the Pacific Hwy through Coffs Harbour.

That's a 44% increase since the preferred bypass route was released in 2004.

"Andrew Fraser can complain all he likes about reducing the size of the roundabout but if we built the bypass then the roundabout would be adjusted in accordance to the reduced traffic," CrKnight said.

She fears it will take a fatality to force the government's hand in financing the project.

"It's only a matter of time before there is an accident there and it's time the government takes this seriously," Cr Knight said.

"You promised us a bypass, you acquired the land, now put your money where your mouth is."