The Department of Transport (DoT) is out on a camera trial to clarify restrictions against trucks moving through Melbourne’s inner west.
Welcoming the trail, Minister for Ports and Freight, Melissa Horne said that in a first for DoT, analytics technology is to be applied to capture heavy vehicle compliance data as well as detecting, identifying, categorising and reporting on the many different heavy vehicle types using Somerville Road in Melbourne.
Ms Horne said the trial outcomes would help determine the roll-out of the technology on other key routes in the inner west to ensure the ongoing safety and amenity for the community.
“The inner west’s proximity to the Port of Melbourne and the high number of warehousing and logistics businesses in the area generates a large volume of heavy truck traffic,” Ms Horne said.
“In collaboration with Maribyrnong City Council, DoT is also installing truck advisory signs.
“These signs will make restriction messages clearer warning truck drivers that A-Double and B-Double trucks are not permitted on specific sections of Somerville Road, Yarraville,” she said.
“DoT has also developed a simple guide published in six different languages to help inform truck drivers about where and when they can travel and to help industry better plan their journeys to port.”
Ms Horne said the trial would assist DoT in its development of a monitoring and compliance response strategy for key inner west routes that would be subject to truck bans when the West Gate Tunnel opened.
She said that when open, the West Gate Tunnel would take 9,000 trucks off roads in the inner west and allow for the introduction of 24-hour truck bans on six local roads, including Blackshaws Road, Hudsons Road, Francis Street, Somerville Road, Buckley Street and Moore Street.
“Truck curfews are monitored by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and Victoria Police to support compliance and enforce penalties for non-compliance,” the Minister said.
Further information on the State’s truck curfews can be accessed at this PS News link.
