Anti-truck group says plan to take heavy vehicles off Melbourne streets must continue despite change of government
By Ruza Zivkusic | February 2, 2011
Melbourne residents lobbying for trucks to be taken off the road in Footscray hope the proposed Truck Action Plan will still go ahead despite the change of government.
The measure is part of the $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan announced by the former Premier John Brumby to cut traffic and congestion in Melbourne’s west.
“We expect and hope that the new government will be pushing ahead with the Truck Action Plan. Until we hear otherwise we’ll just presume that’s going ahead as quickly as possible,” Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) President Peter Knight says.
The proposed road network improvement is designed to reduce truck volumes on Francis Street and Somerville Road in Yarraville by up to 70 percent or 5000 vehicles each day.
It will include construction of new ramps connecting the West Gate Freeway and Hyde Street in Yarraville. The improvements have been underway since early last 2009.
“Transport Minister Terry Mulder has made various statements before the election about it and how roads are crumbling. He has already demonstrated an awareness of the problem and has said that something needs to be done about it,” Knight says.
Mulder’s office did not return calls for comment.