Investment in safety on increasingly busy trucking route, ministers say
Western Australia’s Coalfields Highway is to gain a bumper truck-bay investment at Collie.
The Road Trauma Trust Account (RTTA) will fund the $1.37 million spend and works are expected to take two months to complete.
“Coalfields Highway is the major road freight and passenger link between the South Western Highway and the town of Collie, connecting Bunbury to the inland regions,” road safety minister Liza Harvey says.
“Upgrading the heavy vehicle bay on Coalfields Highway, four kilometres east of the intersection with South Western Highway, will significantly improve safety for all road users.”
Transport minister Dean Nalder says the upgrade to the bay would extend its life and increase capacity to accommodate the growing number of trucks travelling on Coalfields Highway.
“The heavy vehicle bay is an essential stopping area for truck drivers to carry out safety checks of their loads, brakes and tyres before continuing down the Coalfields Hill,” Nalder adds.
“Once upgraded, the new bay will ultimately be able to cater for a further seven road trains, bringing the total capacity to 12 at any one time.
“The upgrade is part of a government $48 million commitment to improve the Coalfields Highway
Harvey says a record $146 million had been allocated from the RTTA in 2016-17, which was made up of speed and red light camera fines.