For five years, Tracey Smyth and her partner Tony Casini have lived in fear of a terrible accident occurring at the intersection of Lovedale Road and Majors Lane at Keinbah.

Ms Smyth sheltered inside her house with her three children and partner Tony Casini while fire officers in suits isolated the chemical spill and made the area safe.

The couple said they were glad that nobody was hurt but added that they were pleased the accident happened because it might now highlight the poor state of the road.

"We have been waiting for something like this to happen for the five years we have lived here,” Ms Smyth said.

They also called for tougher action to combat the speed at which many vehicles drove through the intersection.

At 7am, Ms Smyth was woken by her 11-year-old daughter Kelly.

hen she heard the bang as the trailer overturned,'' Ms Smyth said.

"She thought her cakes were exploding in the oven and she was frantic.

"But we looked outside and saw an overturned trailer in Majors Lane, right outside our house."

Fire officers were soon knocking at her front door, calling on them to get out of their home.

But even as the family snatched some belongings, the ammonium nitrate was isolated and their house was declared safe.

The family was told to stay indoors and a large utility was backed into their driveway to shelter them.

Fire brigades from Weston, Cessnock, Abermain and two hazmat vehicles from Newcastle were on the scene as Wollombi Road, Lovedale Road, Wine Country Drive and Camp Drive were blocked to all traffic for most of the day.

Senior firefighter Matthew Bramall, from Newcastle Fire Control, said two tonnes of amonia nitrate emulsion used for explosives in mining had spilled on to the road when a trailer towed by an Orica truck overturned.

"An area within a 500m radius of the spill was evacuated and police, Cessnock City Council and Orica officials were all notified," Firefighter Bramall said.

"Another vehicle was brought up and the contaminated soil was loaded into it for disposal.

"Fire officers used a special industrial vacuum cleaner to suck the spill off the road and a Cessnock Council road sweeper and road washer finally cleaned up."

Ms Smyth said: "I am worried that someone might be killed or seriously injured here.

"I am scared about what might happen to someone, and I don't want my youngsters to see it."

"This road is full of pot holes and divets and we have been concerned about the speed at which many cars come past.

"You hear the trucks' air brakes come on as they swing round the corner; bang, bang, bang.

"This intersection is really bad and we have spoken to Cessnock Council about it.

"It is not a smooth surface and you see trailers skipping around the corners behind trucks."

Mr Casini said: "We had a front-row seat here to what was a potential disaster.

"I am worried about vehicles losing control at this intersection and coming into our yard.

"We hope that what happened here now will bring our problem to the attention of Cessnock council."