From this week, heavy vehicle drivers will begin to notice monitoring cameras and new road signage communicating important information about restrictions in the Inner West Port of Melbourne precinct.
The state government has invested $350,000 in the new cameras which will be used to capture traffic on key routes where legislated trucks curfews and limits have been put in place.
The on the spot fine for disobeying a ‘no trucks’ sign is $161.
Roads and road safety minister Ben Carroll said this project has factored in both the needs of the local community and the freight transport industry.
“This investment into new cameras and an updated guide is the result of a collaborative approach that has ensured both the needs of the inner west community and the long-term viability of the freight task and transport network are addressed,” he said.
Ahead of the equipment launch, the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) updated operators about curfews and restrictions in the Inner West which, with recent changes, it said has caused some confusion.
“Curfews have been in place on many roads in the Inner west for nearly 20 years. The re-defining of these curfews has taken access one step closer to the completion of the west Gate Tunnel that will give more direct access to the port and surrounds,” the VTA said in a bulletin to members.
The VTA said operators should note the following:
24/7 Curfews
Heavy vehicles are prohibited at all times on Hyde Street, North of Francis St.
- Hyde Street – (Francis Street to Napier Street).
Partial Curfews
Heavy vehicles are prohibited from 8pm-6am weeknights and from 1pm Saturday to 6am Monday.
- Somerville Road
- Francis Street
- Moore Street
- Whitehall Street – (Francis to Somerville Road)
- Hyde Street – (South of Francis Street)
High Productivity Freight Vehicles may operate on permit conditions.
- Williamstown Road
No Curfews
- Footscray Rd
- Napier Street
- Buckley Street
- Whitehall Street –(Somerville Rd to Napier St).
- Sunshine Road
- Geelong Road
- West Gate Freeway
NB: Please observe bridge height clearances in Napier Street of 4 metres.
These restrictions apply to heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes (GVM) – they do not apply to cranes, concrete pumps or businesses residing in these areas.
Please refer to this Department of Transport Information Sheet for details about exemptions and links to Victoria’s Truck Curfew Maps.
The VTA said it had been working closely with Freight Victoria and the Department of Transport to ensure a sensible balance is maintained between operator productivity and community amenity with respect to heavy vehicle movement in the Inner West Port of Melbourne precinct.
The Victorian Government says the West Gate Tunnel Project will take over 9000 trucks a day off local streets and prevent an additional 5000 trucks from taking “rat runs” to avoid the West Gate Freeway.
The local community group, Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) has been campaigning to reduce the numbers of trucks on its residential streets – as B-doubles and A-doubles (or “monster 32m long road trains” as they have put it) continue to travel through their streets.