Gocup Road intersection to be upgraded after horrific crash claims two lives

A deadly Riverina intersection will finally made safer after a pregnant mother and her child lost their lives on the deadly stretch of road earlier this year.

Wagga state Independent MP Joe McGirr says the community has waited decades for an upgrade to the notorious intersection. Picture: Facebook

After claiming the lives of two people and injuring 17 in the past five years, the deadly Gocup Road intersection will finally receive an upgrade.

The NSW government released its plans to install a roundabout on the Snowy Mountains Highway and Gocup Road intersection this week after thousands of locals got behind Wagga state Indepedent MP Joe McGirr’s petition to upgrade the road.

Dr McGirr launched the petition earlier this year after a pregnant mother, her unborn child and 10-year-old daughter were killed in May after their Suburu Liberty collided with a truck at the notorious intersection in Tumut.

The deadly intersection. Picture: NSW Government

Dr McGirr said the community had waited decades for the upgrade.

“This intersection is in the top 3 per cent of riskiest intersections in the state,” Dr McGirr said.

“Something has to be done and I think this roundabout will significantly improve the safety of the intersection.

“Although it will take time, we are where we are, and ideally this would have been built two years ago or when the other parts of the road were upgraded, but it wasn't.

“This road has been an issue in our community for decades and had been brought to my attention for years,” he said.

Plans for the strip of road. Picture: NSW Government

Moving the intersection was one of the options considered in the planning process, however, the government determined moving the intersection and closing the existing Gocup Road connection would only create new safety issues and possible collision points at each of the new intersection locations.

The upgrade is however only at the initial “early concept stage” and will not be complete before mid 2022.

“With possible impacts to Tumut wetlands, areas of heritage significance and nearby properties, a large amount of planning is required,” stated the government’s planning website.

“We are working as quickly as possible on development of the project, including concept design, environmental studies, property acquisition and investigations.

“Construction on the new roundabout is expected to start in late 2021 and will take up to 10 months to complete, subject to project approvals and weather,” stated the website.

The cost of development is not yet known, but Dr McGirr said the government had committed to funding the upgrade.