16 hours ago
Murrumbateman locals sick of 'bandaid' safety solutions as they await Barton Highway duplication
Murrumbateman residents have expressed significant safety concerns about the Barton Highway, which cuts directly through their NSW town, after another fatality this week.
A 78-year-old man was the second person to die driving on the highway in only a month when he collided with a truck on Tuesday.
Since the beginning of last year there have been five fatal crashes on the highway.
NSW government data shows a history of serious accidents, with a total of 141 crashes on the highway from 2014 to 2023.
In that period, nine people died and another five people were seriously injured.
The state government has been working to duplicate the highway, but residents like Murrumbateman Community Association president Stephanie Helm say the community cannot afford to wait.
"I'm born and bred here, and as long as I can remember we've talked about the duplication of the highway being needed.
"My father was involved in campaigning for it when he was on council back in the 90s, and unfortunately I'm still here campaigning for it today."
She said the high volume of crashes on the highway was very distressing for the local community.
"We always worry it'll be someone we know," Ms Helm said.
"Unfortunately for many locals that have lived here, it has often been someone we know, so it can be really scary when you've got your family travelling in and out every day."
Ms Helm said the safety risks on Barton Highway have a big impact on the everyday life of locals, both in town and when commuting to Canberra.
"Most of Murrumbateman and a lot of Yass do commute into Canberra, not just for work, but for healthcare, for schooling.
"And unfortunately, when you're travelling with this many trucks on the road every day, it's really, really nerve-wracking."
The project's first stage was completed in February last year, duplicating 7 kilometres of the highway from just north of the ACT border to just south of Kaveneys Road.
The second stage, now in its planning phase, will duplicate another 14 kilometres of the highway up to Gooda Creek Road.
Another three stages will see the highway eventually duplicated past Murrumbateman to just south of the Yass River, where the road is already dual carriageway.
Ms Helm said stage four, which will see a bypass built to divert traffic around Murrumbateman, will make the biggest safety difference for residents and should be prioritised.
Stages one and two are funded with $65 million from the NSW government and $178 million from the federal government.
Earlier this year, the federal government contributed another $25 million to support planning further stages, but there is no funding for construction on stages three onwards.
In a statement, a Transport for NSW spokesperson said it would keep the community informed as the duplication project progressed, including confirming the construction timeline when it was known.
"The Barton Highway is being upgraded to improve road safety," the spokesperson said.
"Duplicating the highway will ensure safer and more reliable journeys for almost 13,000 road users who use the Barton Highway daily."
The spokesperson said, in the meantime, almost 14 kilometres of road safety barriers were being installed along the highway between Nanima Road and the Hume Highway.
"[And] audio tactile line marking, also known as rumble strips, [will] be delivered north of Murrumbateman in 2026," they said.
But Ms Helm said the highway would only be safe once the duplication was finished.
"It feels like the Barton Highway comes up every election, and then we hear nothing from the politicians afterwards.
"We're sort of sick of being used as a political bargaining chip, really, and just want to see the safety issue addressed.
"We don't want to be waiting another 20 years."
