Inner West Council to turn residential streets into no-go-zones for WestConnex trucks
INNER West Council is set to put the brakes on WestConnex trucks from entering suburban areas in a move to hand local roads back to residents.
Inner West
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INNER West Council is set to put the brakes on WestConnex trucks from entering suburban areas in a move to hand local roads back to residents.
Five streets in Leichhardt would be the first “no-go-zones” for heavy vehicles moving between WestConnex construction sites under bans proposed by the council’s traffic committee.
The limits are aimed at reducing the impacts from the first and second stages of WestConnex and the 1810 trucks to be generated from the final stage, due to start construction this year.
The council said the ban in Leichhardt would be enforced through “no truck signage” in Charles, James, Hubert and Francis streets and Elswick St Nth to limit trucks deviating from the approved truck route on Darley Rd.
Residents in Rozelle are pushing for similar limits on roads near future tunnelling sites at Victoria Rd and the Rozelle Rail Yards.
Leichhardt Against WestConnex co-convener Christina Valentine is hopeful the measures will improve safety in the local area.
“One of the big concerns for residents is the cumulative impacts of the major projects coming our way — not only do we have WestConnex, we have the Western Harbour Tunnel and the Sydney Metro West,” she said.
“Hopefully it will send a message that the council is prepared to use its powers to protect the community from the danger, noise and disruption of each project.”
Figures from the Department of Planning show three WestConnex contractors have been fined this year for turning on to residential streets.
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The penalties included a $15,000 fine to GC Civil Contracting in May for travelling through school zones in Haberfield.
The department said the fines resulted from breaches of set truck routes outlined in the State Government’s approval for WestConnex.
A report by the council’s traffic committee stated the ban would “only displace heavy vehicles which do not have a destination within these local streets.”