Industry agitation for change on safety and productivity grounds bears fruit
A three-month trial extending access through Roma for Type 2 road trains starts this week.
Type 2 Road Trains carrying livestock were currently restricted to travelling on the Warrego Highway between Roma breakdown pad and Roma Saleyards between 7pm and 5.30am.
The move comes 14 months after they gained night access to the yards amid calls for change on safety grounds.
“To maximise safety and increase productivity, we’re trialling an extension to these hours, applying to Sundays only,” main roads and road safety minister Mark Bailey says.
“This three-month trial will allow us to monitor and assess effectiveness.”
Current traffic data supports requests from the livestock industry to open all-day access for Type 2 Road Trains carrying livestock to the saleyards on Sundays, he adds.
The government spent $370,000 to upgrade intersections in Roma, allowing Type 2 road trains carrying livestock access between the breakdown pad and Roma Saleyards in November last year.
“This means drivers transporting livestock at night no longer have to decouple to a smaller road train at a pad west of town to continue the journey,” Bailey says.
“Type 2 road trains are also able to travel safely between Morven and Charleville after a $110,000 project to widen the intersection of the Warrego and Landsborough highways.”
Meanwhile, A $1.5 million project to improve safety at Kingaroy-Barkers Creek, Clark and Swendson roads intersection in Kingaroy will start next week.
The works formed part of a larger project to accommodate B-double operations.
“A dedicated right-turn lane will be built on Kingaroy–Barkers Creek Road and new drainage will improve flood immunity,” Bailey says.
“The project also includes the placement of curb and channel, and street lighting.
“South Burnett Regional Council recently completed works to widen about 400m of Clark and Swendson roads and build a reinforced concrete floodway.”
Single-lane closures, speed restrictions and traffic control would be in place during works.
“To complete works as quickly and safely as possible, access to Clark and Swendson roads and Willowglen Street from Kingaroy–Barkers Creek Road will be closed while the project is underway,” Bailey says.
Works are expected to be completed by early next year, weather permitting.