THE crews of Port Macquarie’s two river ferries have been dealing with slow, but steady streams of vehicles since Friday morning’s fatal collision at Kundabung.
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Motorists have experienced delays of about 90 minutes at Settlement Point, and about 45 minutes at the Hibbard ferry, on Boundary Street, as highway traffic migrates to and from Maria River Road.
A 500-metre tailback on the southern side of the river at Settlement Point remained fairly constant.
The queue on the western side of the Hibbard crossing extended just around the corner, to Hastings River Drive, at times.
Reports from drivers aboard the ferries suggested southbound traffic along the unsealed Maria River Road had been heavier than that heading north.
The Hibbard ferry has extended its regular operating times, from 10am, to ease the congestion.
Queue-bound drivers and passengers remained patient, with many expressing sympathy for those involved in the Pacific Highway crash.
Mother-of-three Georgia Walker was en route from Geelong to Brisbane.
“We set off from Taree early this morning,” she said, while waiting on Boundary Street. “The motel owner told us about the accident and advised us to take this route.
“We’re heading north for a two-week holiday, so the delay doesn’t really put us out too much.
“What we’re going through is nothing compared to the families of the people killed in the crash, so we’ve no reason to complain. The kids are able to get out and enjoy some fresh air, and it’s a beautiful spot here.”
Campbell Petterson, from Crescent Head, often drives to the Hastings via Maria River Rd.
“My grandson is in an athletics carnival at Wauchope and we set off at 8am,” he said, about three hours later.
“There seems to have been more traffic using the back road from the north, and I think a lot of them are from schools heading to the Wauchope carnival, and there’s another one at Port Macquarie.”
Mr Petterson said the stretch of highway at Kundabung was dangerous, and he was glad there was so much upgrade work on the road throughout the Mid-North Coast.
“It’s getting there,” he said of the improvements. “You could hardly expect them to go much quicker than they’re going now.”
