Elsie Lange
Load limit signage and truck bans are on the cards for roads in Hume’s north-west, as council vows to crack down on “cowboys”.
Following a call from councillor Jack Medcraft in March last year to investigate how trucks used Bardwell Drive, Wildwood Road (North), Konagaderra Road, and Gellies Road, officers found the roads were “carrying higher than desirable levels of industrial trucks” .
At a meeting on Monday, February 13, council voted to begin statutory procedures to install ‘no trucks’ signage with an advisory ‘over 4.5ft or 7.5m’ along the roads frequented by the large, load-carrying vehicles.
“Some of these trucks, honestly, they’re going at 110km/h or more on roads that are not designed for that type of speed,” Cr Medcraft said.
“And they’re certainly not designed for trucks carrying a bogie trailer at the back.
“In one instance, a resident said that they were very lucky that they weren’t hit head on, because the guy was going so fast that the trailer at the back was swaying left and right.”
Cr Medcraft wanted to see more police targeting the roads, as well as the speed limit reduced reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h.
The officers report said it was during the closure of the Mickleham Road and Craigieburn Road intersection as part of the Craigieburn Road upgrade that council was made aware of “a significant increase in traffic, including heavy vehicle traffic, on surrounding council roads”.
“Following the reopening of the intersection, increased heavy vehicle traffic has continued to be observed on surrounding local roads including Bardwell Drive, Konagaderra Road, Gellies Road, Wildwood Road (North) and Wildwood Road (South),” the report said.
Council will put out a call for submissions on the ‘no trucks’ signage using local media and council’s website, if in-principle support is gained from the Department of Transport.
Hume will consult with “directly-affected” properties on the proposal.
