Work has begun this week on the construction of two new rest areas, along with safety upgrades to an existing rest area, as part of Tasmania’s Heavy Vehicle Driver Rest Area Strategy.
New rest areas will be constructed at Glenstone Road, Brighton, and Midland Highway at Pontville, while the rest area at Midland Highway at Spring Hill (northbound and southbound) will have bays widened to ensure sufficient space between parked trucks and passing motorists.
Austroads released National Guidelines for the Provision of Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Facilities in 2019.
The Tasmanian Transport Association’s (TTA) rest area review that followed identified that current facilities available for truckies to take breaks, rest, and undertake vehicle and load checks, fell short of the Austroads Guidelines.
In late 2020, the Tasmanian government released the Heavy Vehicle Driver Rest Area Strategy in response to TTA’s review.