Emergency Services Annoyed with RMS

INSPECTOR Guy Guiana has said local emergency services are annoyed at the lack of consultation with the Roads and Maritime Services in the planning of the bypass and rail over bridge options.

Inspector Guiana who is the local emergency controller, of the local emergency management committee said the local committee has not been included enough in the planning.

“They have not sufficiently consulted with the local emergency management committee or the local emergency services,” said Inspector Guiana.

“The initial idea was to have an overpass and then they inserted a bypass option,” he said.

“In principle we support a bypass, but not the current design.

“We are especially concerned with the safety at the t-intersection of the bypass and the current bypass design if there is an accident in town.

“Because they want to build the bypass first and the rail bridge may be 18 months later, we will be operating with only the bypass in emergencies which will increase response times,” warned Guy Guiana.

Some features for better design identified by local emergency services include:

• round-a-bouts at the southern and northern bypass approaches to allow full and safe vehicle movements;
• reduced speed approaching the round-a-bouts and on the bypass, and
• traffic lights at Liverpool Street, instead of the t-intersection.

In terms of the rail bridge options Inspector Guiana said none of the three proposals are suitable, but some significant modifications to the Kelly Street overpass may be an option.

Today is the last chance for the public to make a submission to the RMS.

Making a submission, made easy:

• Submissions do not have to adhere to a strict form or criteria, simply put forward your ideas, preferences and an explanation of why.
• Submissions can be short and sweet, a few lines is fine.
• Include your contact details in the email.

Email: Philip.Davidson@rms.nsw.gov.au

* Please note Inspector Guy Guiana was speaking in his capacity as local emergency controller, NSW Police are not being critical of Roads and Maritime Services.