Inundated with calls, emails and letters at his Armidale electorate office about the damage ongoing wet weather has caused to the highway, Mr Torbay said he was troubled by the number of reported near-misses, shredded tyres and damaged vehicles as a result of the road condition and has made contact with the roads minister as well as the regional manager of Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) to seek urgent repairs to sections for the highway, including areas between Armidale and the Queensland border.

“Road crews have been struggling to to cope with the extent of the damage to the highway,” Mr Torbay said.

He said after travelling to Glen Innes last Friday he had been shocked by the deteriorating condition of the road surface, which he said was particularly bad between Guyra and Armidale.

“Motorists have been left to contend with large potholes, big enough to shred truck tyres and leave cars unable to be driven,” he said.

“I’ve heard stories from so many people about close escapes or damage and it’s really concerning.”

Mr Torbay said with an estimated 10,000 vehicles a day on the New England Highway between Sydney and Warwick, including a significant number of heavy vehicles the situation could easily lead to a tragedy.

“Until the roads crews can repair the worst of the damage, I would urge motorists using the New England Highway to be especially careful,” he said.

Following on from yesterday’s appeal by Mr Torbay the RMS issued a warning for motorists to slow down and take caution on all roads in northern NSW.

A spokesperson for the RMS said a number of reduced speed limits had been installed and road damage warning signs put in place to alert motorists to upcoming damage.

“Driving in prolonged wet weather can test the most experienced motorist’s skills, and they need to make sure they are lowering their speed to compensate for road damage,” the spokesperson said.