I am writing to you following the tragic accident on the Barton Highway on Friday February 8.

I would like to extend my sympathy to the families of both the young man who very sadly lost his life and those of the injured.

My partner Fiona and I happened to be travelling back to Yass from Canberra that evening and we were diverted, along with many others, to drive around Murrumbateman via Nanima Road.

Nanima Road is a relatively narrow road with many turns. We were sharing it with the usual variety of traffic which travels regularly along the Barton Highway - car club groups travelling to Canberra for Friday night, semitrailers, farm vehicles, family groups, workers hurrying home after a long week; the usual assortment.

Nanima Road is not built for this. It struck me that here was yet another horrific accident in the making.

It is yet another negative spin-off from the failure to carry out the duplication of the Barton Highway.

Can't we just get it done?

James Harker-Mortlock

Independent candidate for Hume