Council fixing alternative routes

THE Upper Hunter Shire Council has commenced roadworks on the Scone to Merriwa Road and Dayles Creek Road in an attempt to alleviate travel inconveniences caused by the Merriwa-Willow Tree Road closure.

After numerous requests from Merriwa residents, Council completed a Safety Audit on the Scone to Merriwa Road/Bunnan Road, which revealed 20 sites in need of a guard rail upgrades and two sites requiring extensive shoulder widening.

So far, earth and drainage works have commenced between Ollerton Drive and Sophia Creek and Bunnan Road to Kars Springs, and design works for Sophia Creek to Cuan Shearing Shed have been completed.

Dayles Creek Road received a light maintenance grade prior to the recent flooding and will soon receive a heavy maintenance grade.

Upper Hunter Shire Works Delivery Manager Sam Woods said all road works will be complete by the end of June.

“We’ve done light maintenance grade on Dayles Creek Road but that got washed out due to wet weather. Staff then moved to other projects but when they’re available we’ll go back there and finish that maintenance grading,” Mr Woods said.

“One other issue we identified was the culverts on Kars Springs Road that had fallen off so we put a side track in there, pipes have been ordered but we’re just waiting for them to arrive so we can re-install that structure,” he said.

“Gravel material is also being minded on Dayles Creek Road, there is an opportunity to get back there and do some spot patching,” he said.