After a series of safety complaints were sent through to Kiama Council, new ‘No Trucks’ signs are to be installed at the entrance of Hothersal Street and Colley Drive to prevent them using the shortcut.

The new signage will join the existing sign that sits further up on Hothersal St, which alerts drivers there is a 5 tonne weight limit after they have already turned onto the street.

A mechanic from Harts Garage says most trucks will continue up the street despite this, but occasionally there are drivers who need help reversing out or turning around.

As heavy vehicle drivers turn from Gipps St, they are faced with the steep incline of Hothersal St before facing the narrow bends of Colley Drive.

A resident of Colley Drive told The Bugle he and other elderly residents are concerned about the regular use of semi-trailers, trucks and tour buses navigating the bends.

“There have been a number of times when semi-trailers get stuck on the bend and the right hand turn further along where there is a power pole, which has also been hit in the past,” he says.

The traffic has increased with the road changes caused by the Woolworths redevelopment. The route heads north from the Leisure Centre roundabout on Terralong St.

Councillor and member of the Local Traffic Committee, Stuart Larkins, says the new signage is about “reinforcing the fact that heavy vehicles shouldn’t be driving on that particular road and it will take some time for the signage to improve the awareness of that road because the 5 tonne weight limit has been there for a long time.”

Although signs may help, the Harts Garage mechanic believes it is the drivers’ GPS that is the problem.

“They are just following their maps when all of a sudden they are faced with this steep hill.

“They need to use the truck’s GPS that avoids roads they shouldn’t drive on.”