Motorists, cyclists get clear run on busy Beach Rd after truck ban success
It’s been a long time coming but residents, drivers and cyclists have won the battle to ban trucks from Beach Rd. Will the ban make a difference to your commute?
Inner South
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Bayside motorists, cyclists and beachgoers have welcomed a new 24/7 truck ban on Beach Rd, the culmination of an almost decade-long campaign.
The restrictions will take affect from February 25 from Bay St, Port Melbourne to the Nepean Highway in Mordialloc.
Trucks making local deliveries, loading or unloading goods, or with no other route will be exempt from the ban.
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Bayside Transport Action Group spokeswoman Aline Inci said the ban would make a huge difference for the health and safety of beachgoers and road users.
“It has been a long time coming,” Ms Inci said, thanking politicians across different parties for their support. “It’s such a busy road and there are pedestrians and cyclists who have been hit by trucks.”
Truck volumes on Beach Rd varied depending on several factors — such the arrival and departure of cruise ships at Station Pier — however the number of trucks along the corridor typically ranged from 700 to 1800 a day.
VicRoads will be collecting data to understand how trucks use the Nepean Highway in order to better plan and manage the freight network.
Roads Minister Jaala Pulford said the bans would reduce congestion on Beach Rd.
“We’re leaving local roads for cars and moving freight onto freight routes, which will improve traffic flow and increase safety for the hundreds of visitors to the area as well as the local community,” Ms Pulford said.
Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson said he appreciated the time the State Government had taken to consult with the transport industry on the matter.
“While we remain generally opposed to heavy vehicle bans and curfews, with respect to Beach Rd we expect minimal impact to non-exempted drivers because previous traffic studies confirmed very limited use of it by drivers travelling through the area anyway,” Mr Anderson said.
“We look forward to working with state and local governments on improvements to the Nepean Highway that will make it even better suited to freight movements.”
The Beach Rd ban will not apply to vehicles such as buses, caravans, cranes or concrete pump trucks.
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