That’s the question being posed to residents, who are invited to attend a public meeting at the Merriwa RSL Club on Wednesday, October 25, from 6pm.

And, after what occurred recently at Singleton, the open forum couldn’t be timed better.

“There is an element of concern among locals who feel threatened by heavy vehicles,” Merriwa District Progress Association Inc secretary Beron Arden-Wood said.

“So, we’re keen to hear what other residents have to say.

“We haven’t formally invited the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) or Upper Hunter Shire Council staff, but they’re welcome to attend, too.

“We’re just weighing it all up to see if there’s support for a heavy vehicle bypass.

“If there is, then we’ll follow it up in an official capacity.

“But, it’s important to have the conversation.

“The [bypass] concept only takes in heavy vehicles; we don’t want to discourage people from stopping in Merriwa and utilising the businesses in town.”

Mr Arden-Wood said the RMS predicted the number of [heavy] trucks passing through the Upper Hunter location, on the Golden Highway, would almost double in the next 15 years.

That figure also includes bogie doubles and triples.

“Merriwa is the only town (with a shopping precinct) in which the Golden Highway is its main street – that’s a worry,” he explained.

“On top of that, there are two pedestrian crossings on that stretch of road, while both sides have angled parking.

“When people attempt to cross the street or reverse their car into a spot, the big trucks are often brought to an abrupt halt.

“So, there’s always an element of risk.

“In March last year, the RMS released the Golden Highway Draft Corridor Strategy 2011-2031 [for the next two decades].

“The most heavily used section is from Belford to Mt Thorley, which isn’t surprising.

“However, the next [section] is the bit that includes Merriwa.

“That’s expected to increase by 79 per cent.

“By 2013, the RMS’ own prediction is 620 heavy vehicles will travel from Denman to the Castlereagh Highway on a daily basis.

“That’s another reason for some justification [for a heavy vehicle bypass].

“It’s funny, they’d [the RMS] look at a bypass for Sandy Hollow, before Merriwa, because the public school fronts onto the [Golden] highway.”