Some West Dapto roads are in such poor condition it’s a “miracle” a motorist hasn’t been killed, according to a resident.
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But a Wollongong City Council spokesman said it was steadily working to improve roads in the suburb, including the large Fowlers Road bridge project.
Romeo Cecchele – former convenor of the Dapto area neighbourhood committee – wrote a letter to council’s general manager David Farmer and to councillors identifying “the most dangerous roads and bridges in West Dapto”.
High on his list is West Dapto Road near the Kembla Grange rail crossing.
Mr Cecchele claimed the road is covered to a depth of 20 centimetres during heavy rains.
“There are no lights here so at night drivers hit this pool of water with no warning,” Mr Cecchele wrote.
“It is a miracle that a whole family has not been killed here.”
His letter levelled a similar criticism at the new Darkes Road bridge.
“The newer bridge is narrow and more acutely angled than the older bridge and again it is a miracle that a family has not already been killed here,” he wrote.
“Of course there are no lights here either.”
The council spokeman said “significant improvements” had already been done to roads in the area.
“Council is currently planning further improvements for West Dapto Road including upgrading the road to improve reliability during flood events, increasing safety by increasing sight distances, widening lanes, constructing shared pathways, installing safety barriers and line marking,” the spokesman said.
Work on the Darkes Road bridge was also ongoing, the spokesman said.
“Council has allocated $360,000 for Darkes Rd improvement under the Road Reconstructions program for the 2016/2017 capital works program,” he said.
“The work includes a minor realignment of the road to straighten the approach to the bridge on the eastern side, allowing two-lane access over the bridge.”