Sorell option avoids traffic nightmare

I HAVE had discussions with civil engineers and planning experts about an alternative road from Cambridge to Sorell. “The re-use of some of the route of the defunct Sorell railway, to me, and many others, seems like a no-brainer,” one said.

I suggest the State Government consider a cheap, easy and less disruptive road mostly along the alignment of the old Sorell Railway, which closed in the 1920s. Much of the route from Cambridge to Sorell would not be environmentally disruptive, be easily developed and while a bridge would be needed from Barilla Bay to connect with Shark

Point Rd, it would be much shorter and so less expensive than a parallel McGees Bridge. It appears much of the route has width for at least four lanes.

Engineers are already noting the increased traffic through Richmond (Mercury, July 12). What will it be like when the extra people from planned houses in Sorell and Midway Point take to the roads without proper infrastructure? Can you imagine the trouble and delays that the people of Sorell and further out will be forced to suffer for years while the proposed widening is being done? Everyone should be having nightmares about what the traffic delays will be like when attempts are made to widen the causeway, build another McGees bridge and all the necessary work needed.

Work on a Shark Point Rd connection could start virtually immediately without huge disruption and as well as enhanced access to Sorell and Midway Point, it would be an alternative route to the East Coast. It could be used while the Sorell to Airport road is done. And of course the Sorell municipality would become an even better place to live. Michael Townley

Dodges Ferry