Curfews on trucks using local streets in Melbourne's west could be in for a shake-up
Ruza Zivkusic-Aftasi | July 19, 2012
Curfews on trucks using local streets in Melbourne’s west could be in for a shake-up as part of a review aimed at curbing growing truck numbers.
The Maribyrnong City Council wants to review the effectiveness of the curfews as overall truck traffic has increased, which it says is putting a strain on residents and the environment.
Figures show truck traffic on Moore Street, north of Hopkins Street in Footscray, has increased by 141 percent in the last nine years, with 2,462 trucks roaming the street daily – up from 1,020 in 2002.
Somerville Road in Yarraville has also copped an increase of 46 percent where 2,271 trucks use the route, which is up from 1,303 in 2002.
Residents on Moore Street complain of disrupted sleep due to truck numbers using the route. Figures show traffic levels have increased by 374 percent at weeknights during the last nine years.
The council, which met two days ago, will now review the curfews. They could be expanded because the local government believes an infrastructure solution to the problem is unlikely.
“While the truck curfews have resulted in a reduction of night time truck traffic on some local streets containing curfews, there is evidence of increasing overall truck traffic and increasing impacts on the community,” the council says.
“It is now timely to formally review the effectiveness of the truck curfews that have been in place for 10 years and to consider if any changes and improvements are required.”
Night and weekend truck traffic curfews were introduced in 2002. VicRoads has been responsible for conducting traffic counts.
The recent count data shows that most roads have had a moderate truck traffic growth, with Francis Street having the highest spike of 7 percent to the east, and 10 percent to the west of Williamstown Road in the 12 month period to March 2011.
Overall the west has seen an increase of 12 percent of trucks on their roads, with mostly B-doubles roaming the streets. However, the data shows that truck traffic on Francis Street has dropped during curfew hours.
The development of new truck ramps from the West Gate Freeway to Hyde Street, as previously outlined in the Victorian Transport Plan, would solve traffic issues on many of the roads, the council says.
“Additional truck bans/curfews were to apply to local roads if this alternative freight route was created,” it says.
“Similarly, the proposed East-West Link project would result in reductions in truck volumes, especially in Buckley Street and More Street.”
The council met with Transport Minister Terry Mulder last year, asking him to undertake a joint review of the existing curfews. Mulder responded by asking VicRoads to conduct noise testing.
Greens MP Colleen Hartland, whose electorate is in Melbourne’s west, is calling on the government to commit to building a truck bypass.
“This review has great potential to deliver positive health and wellbeing outcomes for the inner west community but only if complemented by a commitment from the State Government to build the truck bypass,” she says.
“Without this commitment the outcomes of the review will be hampered. It is time this truck traffic problem was fixed and we have the solutions.”
Hartland says more than 21,000 trucks are using local streets each day and the numbers are growing fast.
“Anyone who lives here could tell you that current truck curfews are inadequate and need to be reviewed,” she says.
