Gunnedah Shire Council could consider banning truck parking along a section of Bloomfield Street following an accident at the Chandos Street intersection on the weekend.
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Gunnedah police said the driver of a Toyota Corolla was taken by ambulance to hospital following a collision with a Toyota Hilux just after 11am on Saturday morning.
The Toyota Corolla was travelling south along Bloomfield Street when the driver of the Hilux, who was travelling east on Chandos Street, stopped at the intersection but could not see around a B-double parked along the road.
The Hilux pulled out and collided with the Corolla.
Police said the driver of the Corolla, a 52-year-old woman, suffered soft tissue damage to her shoulder.
Gunnedah Mayor Owen Hasler said councillors had inspected the intersection just days before the accident.
The public furore following work to make part of Chandos Street one-way renewed calls for something to be done at the intersection of Chandos and Bloomfield streets.
Residents north of Cohen’s Bridge expressed their concerns about the safety of the intersection at a meeting with Cr Hasler following a Chandos Street protest last month.
Cr Hasler said at the time the possibility of a new roundabout at the intersection could be looked at in the next two to four years.
He said council could seek government funding or contributions from the mining sector for the project.
Cr Hasler said yesterday councillors visited the intersection last Wednesday ahead of a Planning, Environment and Development Committee meeting.
He said there had been concerns about the intersection a few years back.
“This is the first accident we have had for some time,” Cr Hasler said.
“There were accidents going back two or three years ago.”
He said since that time, the council had undertaken work to improve safety.
Council had put in new line markings to make sure the two corners aligned, improving visibility for drivers crossing Bloomfield Street.
“Councillors are very sympathetic to the issue,” Cr Hasler said.
He said a number of trees were being removed, and council could look at making a section of Bloomfield Street a no parking zone.
“It is quite common for trucks to park there,” Cr Hasler said.
“A truck was parked facing the wrong way when we were doing the inspection.
“We are aware there have been some issues there but a roundabout cost would be considerable.
“It would have to be done to the appropriate Australian standards – it is not just a matter of painting circles on the road.
“Certainly, if the overhead bridge goes ahead we should get funding to upgrade Bloomfield Street to a bypass and we will be looking at putting in a roundabout as one of the stages, but at the moment, we don’t have the funding.”
Work further along Chandos Street to make the section between Little Bloomfield Street and Conadilly Street one-way is continuing.
While several near-misses have been reported on Facebook as drivers travel the wrong way up the street, council has moved to clarify signage and road markings.
The work, and the relocation of the Visitor Information Centre to the Mooki Room in the Civic Centre, is expected to be finished in mid-October.
