FOR Rosanne Bianchini, the upgrade to the notorious Yoogali intersection has been “a long time coming”.
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Her son Joseph was tragically killed in a car accident there on June 28, 2003, when the car he was travelling in lost control in wet weather, colliding with a truck. He was just 15.
“It has been 13 years, but not a day goes past that I don’t think of that intersection and my son,” she said. “No matter of time will ease that.”
Mrs Bianchini was moved to tears as she looked at the plans to fix the intersection on Monday afternoon.
Just metres away from where she stood by her son’s memorial, cars and trucks were racing past, zipping in and out of the dangerous black spot.
As Mrs Bianchini watched that afternoon, more than one near miss played out before her eyes - a typical day at the intersection that has been the site of countless accidents over the years.
She said she had been “over the moon” at the announcement of funds from the state and federal governments to install traffic lights and widen the approaches and bridge at the intersection.
”This is just wonderful,” she said. “It is too late for my son, but at least it will save a lot of lives and be safer for the community.”
In the 13 years since her son’s passing, Mrs Bianchini and her family have campaigned to have the intersection fixed, at times a frustrating experience.
“But this is worth waiting for, now it will be done properly.”
The family has also lobbied for P-plate drivers to carry only one passenger after 11pm, small safety measures that could have saved Joseph.
“Everyone is so excited to hear the upgrade is going ahead and it will be a great day when it opens – it is just sad that it is because of my son,” Mrs Bianchini said.