Freight vehicles over 68.5 tonnes will have to rely on Francis Street to get access to the port
In a recent move, VicRoads has banned access to High Productivity Freight Vehicles (HPFV) exceeding 68.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass (GVM) on the West Gate Bridge, “even on a one-off basis”.
None of the operators, including those that were involved in the Incremental Pricing Trial (IPT), will have access to long-term permits.
“Existing permits have been amended removing access to the West Gate Bridge above 68.5 tonne from 1 November 2016. The IPT will formally end in March 2017,” a VicRoads spokesperson tells ATN.
HPFVs operating at a gross mass above 68.5 tonnes have been accessing the bridge using ongoing permits in a VicRoads trial since 2009, however, they will have to now rely on Francis Street to get from the port to the western suburbs.
Last month, The Age reported that after the trial concludes, VicRoads will impose a “total ban” on heavier trucks – a statement VicRoads denies.
Acting VicRoads director metropolitan north west David Teague states that longer B-double freight vehicles can continue to access the bridge using one-off permits.
VicRoads tells ATN that The Age article was “slightly misleading” as it omitted to mention the above fact.
“VicRoads has not imposed a total ban on vehicles weighing over 68.5 tonnes from using the West Gate Bridge,” Teague says.
“Since 2009 we’ve been trialling a system that’s provided some heavy vehicle operators – who have longer B-double freight vehicles weighing over 68.5 tonnes with permits to travel across the West Gate Bridge on an ongoing basis.”
VicRoad says that, since the end of this trial, the ongoing permits it had granted to certain operators are no longer applicable.
Teague had earlier informed ATN that “heavy vehicle operators can still apply for one-off permits to travel across the bridge. We will assess such applications on a case-by-case basis.”
VicRoads now informs us that the one-off permits “do not relate to freight vehicles” as such applications will “only be issued to over-size and over-mass combinations (OSOM). These are vehicles that transport certain over-size items like bridge beams and construction equipment.
“They exceed 30 metres in length, five metres in width, five metres in height and 100 tonnes in weight.
“These combinations will only have access to the bridge on a case-by-case basis and will operate under a full VicRoads escort.”
Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) director Neil Chambers says the Victorian government needs to consider productivity improvements for crucial agricultural exports to the Port of Melbourne in the period before the Western Distributor is built.
“During the day, and outside of curfew hours, HPFVs can access the Port of Melbourne from the west via the M1, Williamstown Road, Francis Street, Whitehall Street and into Footscray Road,” Chambers says.
“However, at night, weekends, and during school crossing hours, curfews apply.”
CTAA has been seeking “clear access arrangements” for high productivity vehicle up to 77.5 tonnes, “particularly at night when curfews on key freight routes unnecessarily hamper productive access to the port”, Chambers tells ATN.
Earlier this year, CTAA had requested Victorian roads and ports minister Luke Donnellan and other ministers to “consider the impact on the Victorian economy and vital agricultural exports of the lack of access for Higher Productivity Freight Vehicles at higher mass to the Port of Melbourne”.
“Industry is not seeking a free-for-all,” it says. “Access is being requested for approved HPFVs that are route and mass monitored, and only when they are operating above 68.5 tonnes with vital containerised cargo.”
VicRoads states the change will boost safety and efficiency.
“VicRoads is committed to ensuring that the West Gate Bridge can safely and efficiently accommodate the 200,000 vehicles that use it each day,” Teague says.
“We’re also committed to working closely with the heavy vehicle industry to ensure the safe and efficient movement of freight across the state.”
ATN has sought further clarification from VicRoads in this matter.