Motorists leaving Nelson Bay on Monday at the close of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend might best be prepared to expect some delays.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Shortly before noon on Monday the traffic had crawled to a stop on the southbound dual carriageway where the signposted speed limit drops from 100kmh to 80kmh, and returns to single file, at Salt Ash.
The resulting queue stretched well back toward Bobs Farm.
Nelson Bay Road has been subject to a series of upgrades in past years designed to alleviate congestion in peak times. The last of these upgrades through Anna Bay, measuring 4.2 km, was completed in 2015.
That same year the premier Mike Baird said a re-elected Coalition government would prioritise a full duplication of Nelson Bay Road. As yet, it remains unfunded.
The traffic jam comes eight days out from the state budget. One which the Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald MLC holds hopes of bearing good news.
“I’m confident there will be an announcement in the budget,” Mr MacDonald told the Examiner during Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s visit on June 1.
“I’ve been working with the Roads Minister [Melinda Pavey] and I was only talking to Roads and Maritime Services [May31]. I’m hopeful there will be an announcement on June 19.”
