A NARROW, winding stretch of the Riverina Highway near the Bethanga Bridge will be patched up by Roads and Maritime Services next month.
Member for Albury Greg Aplin — who called the road a “goat track” six years ago while in opposition — announced the work yesterday.
“RMS will carry out heavy patching work at various points along the highway between Bethanga Bridge and Lake Hume Resort,” Mr Aplin said.
“Having raised concerns about the state of this road late last year with RMS I am pleased that prompt action is being taken to improve safety aspects on this section.”
Mr Aplin has been pressing for many years for the 2.7-kilometre hillside section approaching the bridge to be upgraded and for a separate narrow section near Hawksview to be widened.
He acknowledged a year ago that major works on these sections were unlikely to happen soon because traffic statistics statewide did not justify such work being given funding priority.
Traffic statistics taken about seven years ago showed about an average 2500 vehicles used the road near the Bethanga Bridge daily.
A young driver was killed on the Hawksview section a year ago when his car hit a tree.
The patching work will be carried out on weekdays from February 4 to 15, from 7am to 5pm, weather permitting.
