Incorrect lane marking on the Bega bypass is a real concern for residents of Finucane Lane.
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Despite resurfacing and sealing work on the Bega Bypass section of the Princes Hwy taking place several weeks ago, the only lane markings replaced so far is the centre the double line.
However, near the intersection with Finucane Lane, even the centre line is in the wrong location.
Roads and Maritime Services representatives were on site Thursday speaking with residents worried for their safety and that of other motorists travelling the highway.
They said before the reseal works, a slip lane was in place allowing local residents to safely turn into Finucane Lane while other south-bound traffic had room to pass on the outside.
That slip lane is no longer marked and has already caused some near misses, they claim.
“My daughter was waiting to turn with a goose-neck trailer carrying two horses the other day,” Helen Slater said.
“A car went around her, but only just made it through.
“I’d prefer this to be a story about getting it fixed rather than one about someone being hurt or killed here.”
Bill and Maree Abraham were also concerned. They said 12 families live on Finucane Lane and with horse floats, school runs and other rural property access, it can be a relatively busy intersection.
“I noticed right from the beginning when they were resealing that the yellow buttons weren’t in the right place,” Mr Abraham said.
“They said it was just temporary and that the correct lines would be painted later, but they just ran the centre line straight through.
“It’s just so dangerous.”
An RMS spokesperson on site Thursday said the turning line – a continuity line – had been accidentally and incorrectly marked as the centre.
They said immediate steps would be taken to correct the error, including a lowering of the speed limit while the current lines are blacked out and a surveyor stamps out new markers ready to be repainted. The painting was likely to be done by early next week.
“To make it safe, it has to be moved,” they acknowledged.
The RMS spokesperson said centre and outside lines were done by internal RMS line markers, while chevrons and turning lanes – yet to be marked out at the southern entrance to Bega – were done by external contractors.