For the past 12 months, the volume of heavy trucks has increased along the road as constructions continue on the Junee Correctional Centre.

During the last year, the gravel road has seen on average 250 vehicles, and 30 heavy vehicles per day.

Council’s engineers previously warned that gravel roads of this type are put under enormous strain once the traffic exceeds 40 vehicles per day.

Residents have noted a significant increase in potholes along the road, prompting council to undertake $42,000 of maintenance along 2.3 kilometres of the straight road.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, councillors expressed concern over the ongoing cost of maintenance to the town’s ratepayers, especially given the jail reconstruction is a state government sanctioned contract.

Councillors discussed closing the road to all but its residents until work on the correctional facility has been completed.

The closure may divert traffic off the Olympic Highway through Wyoming Lane and Moss’s Road. 

Of particular concern was how Moss’s Road, which is a predominately a dirt road, would be able to accommodate any increase to traffic flow. 

Mayor Neil Smith confirmed that the closure would bring the increased traffic directly through the centre of town.

Councillor Mark Cook, who himself lives in the vicinity of Park Lane, said a prolonged closure would move the problem to the adjoining roads.

“All you’re going to do is push traffic out that way. I don’t know if it’ll rectify anything.”