The community is united in a call for a flyover as the ultimate solution at a dangerous highway intersection.
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Bonny Hills Progress Association's Kathy Regan and Bonny Hills resident Peter Rodgers recognise the benefits in an almost $3 million safety improvement project on the way at the Pacific Highway and Houston Mitchell Drive intersection.
But they agree the ultimate solution is a flyover at the intersection. That sentiment is echoed in the broader community.
Mrs Regan, who heads a sub-committee focused on the intersection, said the progress association welcomed the $2.9 million state government funding announcement.
The funding will provide a wider and extended left-hand turn deceleration lane into Houston Mitchell Drive from the north and the addition of a left-hand turn acceleration lane out of Houston Mitchell Drive for traffic heading south on the highway.
A warning signal will alert motorists travelling south along the highway to be cautious when a vehicle is turning out of Houston Mitchell Drive.
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"It certainly isn't a long-term solution - it will give a safer entry to the north and safer exit to the south but doesn't address the traffic that crosses the highway," Mrs Regan said.
She said the progress association would now put its all energy into lobbying for a flyover.
"We have enormous support from the community," Mrs Regan said.
Bonny Hills resident Peter Rodgers' lobbying efforts for safety improvements at the intersection span many years.
He described the slip lane project as "absolutely necessary".
"It should have happened years and years ago but it's good it is going to happen now," Mr Rodgers said.
"I'm a little bit disappointed they won't start work until October, particularly because there has been such a huge increase in traffic along the Ghost Road."
Mr Rodgers said it was really urgent now that funding was committed for an overpass.
He said construction would not start anytime soon even once overpass funding was approved.
Mr Rodgers would also like to see a police blitz in the 100km/h zone to increase motorists' awareness of the reduced speed limit.
Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams said she shared the community's view that ultimately an overpass would provide the safest option for all motorists at the Houston Mitchell Drive/Pacific Highway intersection.
"I want to reassure the community that I will continue to work with Transport for NSW to achieve this outcome," she said.
"However, in the meantime, it is imperative that measures are taken to improve safety at this intersection in the short term and I am confident that the investment of $2.9 million which I announced with Minister Toole last week will address some of the concerns of motorists."
Lyne MP Dr David Gillespie welcomed the state government's $2.9 million safety measures.
Dr Gillespie will continue to lobby the state and federal government to fund an overpass at the intersection.
Keith Raicevich, who lives at Sapling Creek about one kilometre south of the intersection, believes the recently announced $2.9 million project will cause more disruption.
He said the final solution had to be an overpass.
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