Motorists will have to wait a bit longer for a solution to Maitland's biggest traffic headache after Roads and Maritime Services hit a red light in construction.
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RMS announced earlier this year that installation of traffic queue detectors and traffic lights at the Maitland Railway Station roundabout as a temporary solution would kick off on June 2 and take about five weeks.
Work was also set to include widening Cessnock Road to extend the left turn lane by about 100 metres to near the U-turn bay.
But three months on and the works aren't close to being finished.
Transport for NSW Hunter director Anna Zycki said Transport for NSW experienced delays in getting the traffic lights connected to power and the construction team was required to move to another project until power could be established.
"Power has now been connected, and the construction team will be back on site to start work on the Cessnock Road widening and to complete the traffic lights," she said.
"A retaining wall will also be built as part of the project to extend the left turn lane from Cessnock Road onto the New England Highway.
"Work on the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year, weather permitting."
But Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison said it was just another traffic issue in Maitland that was "dragging on and on".
"It's the same with Testers Hollow," she said.
"I keep getting told it's coming.
"But the community is having to live with the consequences."
She said she believed the delay was a way of the government trying to save money.
"The government has this top-line surplus," she said. "But the net debt is set to be over $38 billion by June 2023.
"They're having a go-slow on their projects."
But Liberal Member of the NSW Upper House for the Hunter Taylor Martin said the government could not push back spending when work was currently taking place.
"In fact, it's being expended ahead of time due to surplus budget being available earlier than expected," he said. "The State Government made a decision to progress the works faster than otherwise scheduled and funding was available in the budget - hence why work is currently being undertaken.
"There have been physical obstacles to progressing the work.
"People just want to get home quicker, and when the works are complete at the end of the year they will get home sooner."
Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
