A MOTORCYCLIST has died following an accident at the Pacific Highway and Houston Mitchell Drive intersection.
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Shortly before 11am, March 3, a Kawasaki motorcycle travelling south on the Pacific Highway and a Hyundai Tucson travelling west along Houston Mitchell Drive collided.
Emergency services were called to the scene, where the motorcycle rider, a male believed to be aged in his 50s, died at the scene; he is yet to be formally identified.
The driver of the Hyundai, a 79-year-old man, was trapped for a short time before being taken to Port Macquarie Base Hospital for treatment and for mandatory testing.
A crime scene has been established, with the Crash Investigation Unit to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Anyone who may have dashcam footage of the incident is urged to come forward and contact police.
The Pacific Highway has been reduced to one southbound lane, traffic delays are expected.
The NSW Transport Management Centre said all southbound lanes of the highway are closed at Houston Mitchell Drive but motorists can get around the crash only under police direction.
Traffic is heavy so motorists are advised to allow plenty of additional travel time or to consider an alternative southbound route.
Three ambulance units attended including NSW Police, Fire and Rescue and the State Emergency Service.
The accident comes just days after a speed limit reduction from 110kmh to 100kmh was announced for this notorious stretch of highway which has been the scene of multiple collisions.
Residents concerned about the highway black spot have been rallying for several years for a flyover or overpass at the intersection, or have the speed limit reduced.
Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams announced last week that following a speed zone review by Transport for NSW, the existing 110kmh speed limit will be reduced to 100kmh in the southbound carriageway only, from one kilometre north and south of Houston Mitchell Drive.
"Transport for NSW completed the review in response to community safety concerns, following a series of recent crashes at the intersection," Mrs Williams said.
Mrs Williams said the speed zone review was completed in consultation with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and NSW Police, and brings the speed zone into line with other similar intersections on the Pacific Highway.
"The review was completed in accordance with the NSW Speed Zoning Guidelines, which considered a number of factors like roadside development, traffic data and crash history," Mrs Williams said.
Work to replace the existing signage is now underway and motorists are urged to exercise caution in the area until this is completed.
Transport for NSW is continuing to investigate additional measures to improve safety at the intersection and will keep the community informed as plans progress.
Member for Lyne David Gillespie is also pushing for interchanges and overpasses at black spot Pacific Highway intersections at Harrington and Houston Mitchell Drive following a fatality earlier this month which claimed the life of a 74-year-old woman.
Dr Gillespie said the next phase of investment in the Pacific Highway upgrade program must include overpasses and interchanges at critical intersections where there has been several fatal accidents and increased traffic flows in recent years.
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