POPULAR WORDS

January 12, 2010

Extensive works have begun on rest areas in South Australia in an effort to reduce heavy vehicle driver fatigue and give truckies a place to rest.

The jointly funded $7.8 million project will construct five new areas and refurbish eight existing ones along port Wakefield Road.

The Rudd Government is investing $4.5 million as part of its $70 million Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program, while the Rann Government is spending $3.3 million.

“By working together we are providing local and interstate truck drivers with more opportunities to get the rest they need, which in turn will make the state’s roads safer for all road users,” Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese says.

He says the 13 projects are expected to be completed by the middle of this year.

“Upon completion there will be a safe, modern rest area roughly every 33 kilometres in each direction between Virginia and Port Augusta,” Albanese says.

Major new parking bays will be built near Redhill, Warnertown and Virginia.

Minor rest areas will be built near Crystal Brook and south of Redhill.

The existing truck parking bay at Crystal Brook will be upgraded, alongside the upgrade to the minor rest area at Wakefield.

Another two rest areas south of Port Augusta will be upgraded, with the existing parking bay at Dublin to be refurbished.

The project will also upgrade two minor rest stop south of Lochiel and another one north of Snowtown.