By Julian Wright, Midland-Kalamunda Reporter
SHARON and Robert Brown say common sense has prevailed after a road safety complaint threatened the future of their High Wycombe transport company.
Main Roads WA deemed a 100m section of Maida Vale Road too narrow after finding road trains used by the business, at the corner of Dundas and Maida Vale roads, were unable make a right turn without cutting across the intersection.
The section of road was removed from the Restricted Access Vehicle Network, meaning the business lost one of its two entry points essential to its operations.
Given the property is too small for trucks pulling two trailers to enter, load and turn around to exit through a singular access point, the Browns found themselves in a compromised position.
“We had to stop at Kewdale and only bring in one trailer at a time, which meant going back and forth, and putting on extra employees,” Mrs Brown said.
“Except there isn’t always room in Kewdale to leave trailers behind and it is illegal to leave trailers if they contain dangerous goods in them.
“It was a commonsense issue and common sense was not prevailing.”
The State Government has loaned the Shire of Kalamunda funds to widen the intersection and a Main Roads WA spokeswoman said the road would be put back on the Restricted Access Vehicle Network when works were complete, expected to be in three weeks.
The spokeswoman said the intersection had been investigated after a member of the public made a complaint.
East Metropolitan Region MLC Alyssa Hayden lobbied for Transport Minister Troy Buswell to help to rectify the situation.
“The intersection needed to be upgraded for the safety of the wider community and motorists,” Ms Hayden said.