With poor facilities for truck drivers at many Aussie rest areas a hot topic of conversation amongst drivers, Spy was delighted to see improved access and new toilets at Bluewater beside the Bruce Highway.
The rest area is at Christmas Creek, Bluewater, which is about 40km north of Townsville.
I have been monitoring the construction of the facilities which include turning lanes, toilets and real-time information about rest area availability for heavy vehicles.
In addition to turning lanes into and out of the rest area, the upgrades will improve conditions for heavy vehicle operators through the installation of real-time information on rest area availability for large vehicles, Intelligent Transport Systems, advanced warning signs, automatic number place recognition cameras and smart energy systems to power the Intelligent Transport Systems devices.
This is one of six heavy vehicle rest areas being upgraded to include Intelligent Transport Systems devices to support heavy vehicle operators in managing their fatigue as committed under the Heavy Vehicle Safety Action Plan.
Spy can only hope that Main Roads Department will send a man with a long white beard in a red suit with gifts for truckies at the Christmas Creek rest area.
How about a rest area between palm tree creek north of mackay and the “big mango” rest area a few kilometres south of bowen on the Bruce highway. . Ther are many places which could be suitable rest area sites but, even near proserpine, no rest area exist. Around Gympie there are numerous rest areas on the Bruce highway, many of which will be bypased when the extension to the Gympie bypass freeway is completed.