Former Highway Patrol officer supports campaign for Heathcote Road bridge duplication

Mr Hayston's 35 years of service included 13 years with the Highway Patrol in Sutherland Shire and seven years as traffic coordinator for the St.George and Sutherland police district.

"During that time, I attended and investigated at least 12 fatal crashes on Heathcote Road, a number of which occurred on the two-lane bridge," he said.

Mr Hayston, who has lived at Engadine since 1972, still has photos of some of the bridge crashes he attended.

"They would not have occurred if the bridge had four lanes," he said.

"In my position as a traffic management expert, I lobbied for years for the bridge to be widened or duplicated without result.

"It was always pushed aside by the bureaucrats.

"It is pleasing to see Sutherland Shire Council is now echoing my efforts from almost 30 years ago."

Mr Hayston described Heathcote Road as "treacherous, and the most dangerous road in the shire".

"It urgently needs major engineering enhancements from Forum Drive, Heathcote to Holsworthy," he said.

Mr Hayston said, when he started patrolling the road, the bridge railings were made from gas pipes.

"I pushed for them to be replaced with something stronger and, eventually, heavier barriers were installed," he said.

"What it needs now is another bridge next to it."

Mr Hayston recalled "one instance of the insanity that prevails among some drivers who use Heathcote Road".

"About 11 o'clock one night in 1974, I was operating an old Digidar Doppler radar, calibrated in miles per hour on Heathcote Road, Lucas Heights," he said.

"I detected probably the highest speed ever detected n this state and possibly in Australia.

"A Ferrari was recorded travelling at 186mph (miles per hour) - 299km/h - in the then 60mph signposted zone on a long, straight section.

"The offender - and I still remember his name - fought me through the courts, claiming the vehicle could safely travel at that speed, but he was subsequently convicted."

Mr Hayston said he had watched Transport Minister Andrew Constance on TV saying 100 per cent of the millions of dollars raised from speed cameras was ploughed back into road safety.

"Well Mr. Constance, here's a project that you can put on the top of your list," he said.

"Let's hope the state government will finally relent and take positive action to protect it's citizens."