Static signs with long messages seen as ineffective and unsafe
VicRoads has developed what it describes as an Australian-first electronic ‘No Trucks’ signs to enforce complex truck curfews in Melbourne’s inner west.
In January, Somerville Road, Yarraville truck curfews were extended to include school drop off and pick up in a move backed by the Victorian Transport Association.
To clearly and safely communicate four different curfew periods to drivers along the 2.6km stretch of Somerville Road, it turned to electronic LED signs, designed and programmed to switch on and off during truck curfew periods and display a ‘No Trucks’ symbol.
The design was a collaborative effort involving VicRoads engineers Mathew Ryan, Hani Nahlawi, Thuan Nguyen and contractor Hi-Lux.
“The electronic signs communicate with the VicRoads Intelligent Transport System (ITS) data centre via 3G connection and this allows the signs to automatically display ‘No Trucks’ during the programmed curfew periods,” Nahlawi says.
The solution looked to avoid large static signs with long messages when conveying multiple and variable time-based curfews.
“The signs are the first to be designed under the updated Australian Standard for electronic signage and they have been shared with other states and territories,” Ryan says.
Eleven electronic ‘No Trucks’ signs were designed and installed, of which four are regulatory signs on Somerville Road and seven are advisory signs on the approach to Somerville Road.
The total cost of the project including design, electrical and civil works was $590,000.