Road users got to experience the $6.1 million Eunony Bridge Road Deviation Project for the first time – and there was a mixed response to the upgrade.

Kim Field is a long-time resident of Byrnes Road. She is taking a wait-and-see approach to whether the new road is an improvement.

She has been involved in an accident and plenty of trucks have lost their load where the roundabout now sits at the notorious intersection, but she was more concerned about the south-bound approach of the intersection.

“The speed at which trucks come down the hill leading into the roundabout is worrying,” Mrs Field said.

“The approach to the roundabout seems quite narrow as well.”

Mrs Field was told there were plans to improve visability 1.6 kilometres north of the intersection.

A Wagga City Council press release said work on upgrading the rest of Eunony Bridge Road (between Eunony Bridge and the Sturt Highway) and a section of Byrnes Road will begin in the coming months.

“By eliminating mechanically intensive T-intersection turns, this new road will make it safer for heavy vehicles travelling between the Sturt Highway and Bomen,” council infrastructure services director Heinz Kausche said. 

The project is jointly funded with council’s $3.6 million contribution supported by a $2.5 million NSW Government grant.

Ross Smith Livestock Transport owner Ross Smith said the new road would save his company many hours of travel time.

“Sometimes we’re doing two or three-load trips and this will save us a lot of time,” Mr Smith said.

He said foggy conditions would be a concern at the intersection and mentioned the road “doesn’t leave much room for error”.

Another Livestock carrier, Adam Manwaring, said the road was good for the city.

“The only thing is I’d like someone to rethink the approaches to the roundabout,” Mr Manwaring said.

“It snakes into (the roundabout) a bit and for B-double drivers it might be a bit tricky with the shifting load weight.”