An intense truck fire in Tenterfield's main street overnight has reignited interest in the town's bypass project.
Key points:
- Residents woke to sounds of exploding tyres as fire engulfed a b-double in Tenterfield
- The mayor says the incident highlights the urgent need for a bypass of the CBD
- $10 million was allocated in 2017 for the design and planning phase of the project
Heritage buildings along the New England Highway were spared major damage from the blaze which started around 1:00am.
Kerry Hampton said she woke to the sounds of tyres exploding and went outside to find a truck carrying paper goods well ablaze.
Police are investigating but it is believed the fire started when the b-double's wheel bearings locked up, causing the tyres to ignite.
Ms Hampton said the truck driver managed to unhook his cabin and move it clear of the blaze before police and fire crews arrived.
"Thankfully, had they not turned up in time, God knows what would have happened," she said.
More pressing issues
Local MP Janelle Saffin said her constituents never raised the issue of a bypass with her but that the incident would get people talking about it again.
Ms Saffin said it was an issue that had its supporters and opponents.
"There have been more compelling issues in Tenterfield, but it's like everywhere, bypasses are almost inevitable."
In July 2017, the federal government committed $10 million over three years to continue planning for the project to be shovel-ready, though its construction has not yet been costed nor funded.
Sydney-based engineering firm Arcadis Australia Pacific has been carrying out the planning work, including a review of environmental factors and the project's design.
Planning well underway
Mayor Peter Petty said the latest funding allocation had been used to finalise the design of three bridges and pay for the acquisition of land from 24 landholders.
He said the council had never wavered from its push for a bypass and construction could not begin soon enough.
"You don't just build a bypass and then say: 'What are we going to do now?'
"We've planned for this for a long time, and our main street and CBD are in a good position to handle a bypass."
Cr Petty said the truck fire only served to highlight the urgency of the project.
"If that had happened in the middle of the day or on a busy Saturday morning, God help us."
He said the council was continually lobbying the state and federal governments for updates on the land acquisition process and funding for construction.
"I'm not really satisfied with progress for the main reason that we haven't been kept up to date.
"That is the next conversation we will be having, especially after the incident last night."
Federal Member for New England Barnaby Joyce said he would continue to fight for the bypass to go ahead for the sake of everyone's safety.
Mr Joyce said Transport for New South Wales remained committed to the project, and he expected a review of environmental factors would be open for public feeback later this year.