Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, left, and Inverell Shire Mayor Paul Harmon on the section of Copeton Dam Road which will soon be upgraded.
Friday, 21 August 2020
ONE of Inverell’s main tourist drives, Copeton Dam Road, will undergo a number of upgrades to improve safety for motorists, thanks to a $289,750 grant from the State Government’s Fixing Local Roads program, announced today by Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall.
Mr Marshall said Copeton Dam Road was the gateway to one of the Inverell’s main tourist spots and needed regular maintenance to keep travellers from out of the region safe.
“It might be two lanes and sealed, but with 543 vehicle movements a day there will always be a potential for accidents on Copeton Dam Road,” Mr Marshall said.
“This funding will allow Inverell Shire Council to patch large sections of cracked seal to improve ride quality, while also grading an existing shoulder and table drain to assist with the removal of water and surface defects.
“Crews will trim a number of overhanging tree branches to improve line of sight and reduce the risk of collisions, in particular with native wildlife like kangaroos.
“These works are expected to take place in the New Year and Council will notify the community when they begin.
“This is an important project because the last thing we want is for somebody to have a tragedy on the road after a weekend with friends and family at Copeton Dam.”
Inverell Shire Mayor Paul Harmon said everyone from holiday makers to livestock carriers would benefit from the upgrade.
“It’s one of the busier local roads in our shire and as is the case with most of our rural road network, the dry times are leading to shrinking and deterioration of the bitumen,” Cr Harmon said.
“More than 60 heavy vehicles, including livestock trucks and a school bus, travel the road each day, so they too will benefit from the removal of overhead limbs, which will improve sight and safety for road users travelling both ways.”