Higher mass limits a win for road transport industry, says minister
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The completed Richmond River bridge
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The New South Wales government is hailing the soon-to-be-completed Pacific Highway upgrade as a new era for road freight between Sydney and Brisbane.
Regional transport and roads minister Paul Toole says the recent opening of the new bridge at Wardell on the Richmond River in northern NSW removes the last remaining load-restricted bridge for higher mass limits (HML) between the two capital cities.
“We are on the home stretch of duplicating the Pacific Highway between Hexham and the Queensland border – a $15 billion multi-generational project that will deliver safer, smoother journeys right up and down the coast,” Toole says.
“Motorists are already saving more than two hours driving that section, and time savings will continue to grow as we hit the finish line later this year.
“This is a huge win for the freight industry. Productivity gains like this don’t come along every day.”
“Motorists are already saving more than two hours driving that section, and time savings will continue to grow as we hit the finish line later this year.
“This is a huge win for the freight industry. Productivity gains like this don’t come along every day.”
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Paul Toole (left) and Ben Franklin
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Legislative Council Member Ben Franklin says since it opened in September, the new bridge has allowed the trucks moving the most freight on our highways to carry 15 per cent more on this key corridor.
“This means less vehicles are needed to carry the same amount of freight, which improves productivity, reduces transportation costs and means less trucks on the road,” Franklin says.
The upgrade of the Pacific Highway, which is expected to be completed by year’s end, is a joint initiative between the Australian and NSW Governments.
Following that, 30-metre Performance Based Standard level B-double heavy vehicles will be able to travel along the route, which the NSW Government says will bring significant productivity and safety benefits for the community and industry.