Queensland Government load restrictions will enforce a 20 percent reduction in axle loads on road freight vehicles due to flood-affected
Queensland Government load restrictions will enforce a 20 percent reduction in axle loads on road freight vehicles due to flood-affected roads.
The load restrictions were put in place after recent flooding in Northern Queensland.
The restrictions will stop further damage to water-saturated roads from recent floods and ensure the long-term protection of the road network, according to Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt.
“Any trucks normally allowed access can use the road, but only at 80 per cent of their axle loads, except steer axles, which can be at the regulation mass,” Pitt says.
“The 80 percent load restrictions override concessional loading schemes such as the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme, the Grain Harvest Management Scheme, volumetric loading for livestock transport and concessional schemes for timber transport.”
Due to more heavy rain, Pitt says temporary restrictions have been reimposed for all excess mass and dimension vehicles in the Central Highlands district until at least February 18.
As a result, the Government has released a new map showing road closures and load restrictions on key links throughout Queensland, which, Pitt says, will help transport operators to safely plan their trips.
“The map gives up-to-date information on which roads are closed due to flooding and those that are subject to load restrictions,” he says.
“An accompanying table also shows the specific load restrictions for various roads and users can zoom in on sections of the map for closer detail.”
The map has been placed on the Main Roads website. Pitt says operators can also look at the latest information regarding Permit Management System conditions.
“Information about excess mass and dimension vehicles can also be found on the Main Roads website under ‘access and permits,” he says.
The map can be found here, in the ‘Queensland floods 2008’ section under ‘helpful information’.