The closure of New Street and the adjacent roundabout for the rail overpass project is expected to cause major traffic hold-ups during AgQuip.
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Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) has planned the expected six-month closure for Monday, August 12 - just 10 days before Gunnedah's agricultural field days on August 20-22.
The closure is to allow work to continue on the rail overpass, including installing drainage culverts, building the new Oxley Highway roundabout, and service relocation.
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This means motorists will only be able to cross the railway at Carroll, Marquis and Abbott streets.
Gunnedah deputy mayor Rob Hooke said there wasn't adequate consultation with the RMS before they set a closure date.
"There was suggestions from the RMS that they'd done a thorough consultation, but I think the consultation was informing [the community] what would happen rather than consulting with them," Cr Hooke said.
"We don't feel that there's been enough consultation between the RMS and the community ... I think we needed further consultation about the entire closing of that area."
I would hope the schedule would allow them to start the work on the roundabout ... after AgQuip is over.
- Gunnedah deputy mayor Rob Hooke
Cr Hooke said he hoped the planned works would be delayed so road users wouldn't experience disruptions over the AgQuip week.
"I would hope the schedule would allow them to start the work on the roundabout ... after AgQuip is over and have more consultation with residents while the roundabout is being built," he said.
The NVI contacted the RMS for a comment but they did not respond in time for publication.
AgQuip brings more than 100,000 visitors from all over the country to town every year. The average visitor spends $150 each, which estimates at a $12 million boost for the local economy.
When New Street closes, road users coming into Gunnedah from Tamworth and Quirindi will need to use either Bloomfield Street or Conadilly Street to access the Oxley Highway.
Those travelling coming into town from the direction of Mullaley will need to use South Street to access Conadilly Street.
Trucks and other heavy/oversize vehicles will use the same routes, using the roundabouts on the corners of Marquis and Barber streets, and Marquis and South streets.