Upgrade needed for 'scary' Bridge and Denne Street crossings used by Tamworth West Public School students, mum claims

Sarah McAlpine and her daughter Emily have been going to the school for nearly six years.

It was last year that Mrs McAlpine realised how dangerous their double-crossing really is.

"It sort of came to a head last year when I actually witnessed Emily almost getting hit," she said.

A big four-wheel-drive vehicle came out at the same time as the student, then in Year 4.

READ MORE:

"It was horrible. I was over at the [opposite] intersection. I let her cross the lights by herself - she was learning to walk to school by herself," Mrs McAlpine said.

"To see her step out directly into the path of a car because she got the green light and he had the green light, it was terrifying, it was horrific.

"Luckily he stopped and Emily stepped back. I screamed. Luckily it didn't happen, but it was horrific, my heart stopped. A less attentive driver, it would have happened."

She said others have had their own near-misses and two adults, workers at a nearby business, have been actually hit.

Mrs McAlpine wants an upgrade to the intersection, potentially to add turning arrows for cars turning right from Denne onto Bridge Streets. Alternatively, timing for the pedestrian signals could shift so they are not on while cars are turning.

Her warning follows a similar one by St Joseph's Primary School mum Kylie Pollard about another Bridge Street intersection.

Her lobbying convinced the state government to commit to improve signage and investigate a potential upgrade to the Crown Street crossing.

Mrs Pollard was motivated by the same thing as Mrs McAlpine - a near miss.

Emily McAlpine, has crossed the intersection for nearly six years.

"Sometimes it's really scary, because I've almost been hit at that intersection, and I don't want that happening to any other kids there," she said.

"I'm not sure what to do about it because I'm just a kid and most people don't listen to me."

Mrs McAlpine said the school tends to assign a teacher to staff the intersection in the afternoon, but it isn't feasible to do so during the hour-long drop-off period in the mornings.

Bother intersections are the responsibility of the state government, not Tamworth Regional Council.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: