Additional signs warning motorists of steep gradients will be installed on the Hume Highway in south-west NSW this month.
The signs follow feedback from heavy vehicle operators and a safety review at several locations between Holbrook and Yass, where there have been a concerning number of rear-end collisions involving heavy vehicles, including a recent fatal bus-truck crash at the Kyeamba Gap Rest Area.
Transport for NSW Acting Regional Director South Martin Cocca said steep gradient signs will be placed northbound and southbound at six key locations to provide clearer warnings to motorists about steep inclines where drivers may encounter slow-moving heavy vehicles.
“After receiving feedback from heavy vehicle drivers and analysing crash data, we’ve identified six priority locations where additional signs will significantly improve safety for all road users,” Cocca said.
“The signs will alert drivers to approaching steep gradients, warn of potentially slow-moving heavy vehicles, and provide guidance on safely merging with traffic in these sections of the highway.”
The signs will be installed at Aeroplane Hill at Kyeamba Gap, Wagga Wagga Hill near the Sturt Highway interchange, Muny Muny Hill north of Coolac, Steps and Stairs, north of Jugiong, Conroys Gap, south of Yass and Mundoonan Range, north of Yass.
Cocca said the signs were a simple, cost-effective solution to an increasing problem as larger heavy vehicle combinations become more common on Australia’s busiest freight corridor.
“With freight volumes expected to increase by 26 per cent over the next 20 years, we’re seeing more larger combinations on our roads. These vehicles carry more weight and length, resulting in slower climbs on steep gradients,” Cocca said.
“This signs will help give motorists more warning and guide them on how to safely share the road.”
The project is being delivered through the Towards Zero Safer Roads Program, which aims to create sustainable and long-term reductions in road trauma through targeted infrastructure improvements and speed management treatments on existing road networks.
Work on the signage installations is expected to begin in coming weeks and be completed by the end of the month, weather permitting.