Trevor Furniss from Esperance Freight Lines said the new island – which was installed at the intersection of Harbour Road and the South Coast Highway – has made traffic through the intersection even worse than before.

“It’s a complete and utter stuff-up. It’s really bad for trucks,” Mr Furniss said.

“In theory and on the computer it might have looked all right.

“They haven’t improved it. They have just created a problem.”

Mr Furniss said the main problem posed was for trucks turning right onto the South Coast Highway – the new traffic island leaves the trucks with little room to manoeuvre.

Main Road Regional Manager for Goldfields-Esperance, Shane Power, said there was unfortunately little that could be done at this stage.

Mr Power said there was still work to be done on the intersection, and said while Main Roads would like to review the design, they were unable to due to budget constraints.

“We have been meeting with transport operators since the island has gone in, and they are concerned that it is more difficult to negotiate through the intersection.

“Before this, there was no control through the intersection,” Mr Power said.

“The work is not final. Main Roads responded to a safety issue with vehicles on South Coast Highway going too far forward.”

Mr Power said there were several reports of near misses between cars and trucks using the intersection.

Mr Power said the finalised island would include dedicated left and right lanes and turning pockets.

Due to a lack of funding, Mr Power said the work would not be completed until 2011-2012.

Mr Furniss said he was not happy with that response.

“It’s sheer stupidity.”