Heavy vehicles moving under strict conditions on the Stuart Highway, north of Glendambo, under staged reopening of route
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has welcomed the partial reopening a section of the Stuart Highway, which was closed due to significant flooding in Central Australia.
It comes after the regulator granted temporary access to road trains up to 53.5m on key routes to keep essential food stocks rolling through South Australia to Western Australia.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says re-opening of the highway would start to ease the heavy vehicle traffic on alternative routes, being used under NHVR approval.
“It’s another important step for the heavy vehicle industry, government and the Regulator keep the flow of goods and supplies on this north-south route,” Petroccitto says.
“We’ll continue to work with the government and industry to assist in providing appropriate access across flood-impacted areas of Central Australia.”
Heavy vehicle traffic has started moving under strict conditions on the Stuart Highway, north of Glendambo, since Sunday morning.
The road was declared safe for trucks to use during daylight hours.
The NHVR’s National Class 2 Supplementary Access (Northern Territory Assistance) Authorisation Notice 2022 (No.1) remains in place to provide temporary Class 2 heavy vehicles access for road trains up to 53.5m long to specified routes from South Australia to Queensland via New South Wales, to join the Road Train Type 2 Network through Queensland to Darwin.
The land bridge between SA and WA, opened last Thursday, also remains in place.
The National Class 3 Supplementary Access (Western Australia Assistance) Exemption Notice 2022 (No.1) is allowing temporary access for Class 3 vehicles that are road trains up to 53.5 metres in length moving from Port Augusta west, via the Eyre Highway and also the Lincoln Highway connecting to the Eyre Highway.
“I would urge all heavy vehicle operators and light vehicle drivers using these routes to be aware of the changed conditions and take extra care.”
More information can be found at www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/heavy-vehicles/news-industry/ or on the NHVR’s information sheet.