Upgrades in 13 areas will provide more rest areas for WA truck drivers
The Western Australian government has announced it will upgrade rest area facilities for heavy vehicle operators at 13 locations across the state.
The upgrades form part of a $50 million freight vehicle productivity improvement program to help ensure the safety of truck drivers and limit driver fatigue issues.
Both the federal and state governments are funding the program to allow for better safety in turning movements and parking, while also providing breakdown areas for combination vehicles to reduce noise and dust.
Along with the construction of ablution blocks at certain places, the first phase of the program includes a $20 million investment across 13 locations in the Pilbara, Mid-West, Wheatbelt, Goldfields and South-West regions.
Work has already begun at Munjina’s heavy vehicle rest area adjacent to the Auski-Munjina roadhouse, with the upgrades including the sealing of the area to improve heavy vehicle access.
All improvements are due for completing in late 2022 as works progressively begin on each of the 13 locations over the next six months.
Pilbara will be the most affected area, as six different projects will occur along the Great Northern Highway and on Marble Bar Road.
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Four separate works in the Mid-West and Gascoyne will further improve the highway for heavy vehicles, while singular upgrades in Wheatbelt, Goldfields Esperance and South-West will solidify the area.
Consultations with the Transport Workers Union WA Branch, Western Roads Federation and the Livestock and Rural Transport Association of WA helped identify the locations for the priority projects.
“Our freight drivers in WA provide an essential service and are key for delivering critical supplies across the country,” WA transport minister Rita Saffioti says.
“The heavy vehicle industry has advocated for all needs to be addressed in one placing creating a ‘one stop’ approach and we are delivering these improvements to support road safety and provide greater opportunities for heavy vehicle operators to utilise as part of their fatigue management.”