Hume council vote in favour of proposed truck ban on Konagaderra Rd, Gellies Rd, Wildwood Rd and Bardwell Dr

A council in Melbourne’s north wants to ban trucks on four roads after safety concerns, cracked pavements and road damage left it footing costly repair bills.

Hume Council will vote on whether to ban trucks on Konagaderra, Gellies, Wildwood Rd and Bardwell Dr. Picture: Supplied.

Trucks could be banned from driving through several roads in Melbourne’s north amid safety concerns after a history of extensive damage and rolled B-doubles.

Hume Council on Monday night voted in favour of a plan to ban trucks from various roads — including Konagaderra Rd, Gellies Rd, Wildwood Rd and Bardwell Dr.

The trucks would instead be directed to nearby arterial routes, including Sunbury Rd and Melbourne-Lancefield Rd.

According to the council, the move would improve safety, reduce congestion and prevent long-term damage to rural infrastructure.

Hume Council will vote on whether to ban trucks on Konagaderra, Gellies, Wildwood Rd and Bardwell Dr. Picture: Supplied.

Documents revealed that the approach barriers on one-way bridges at Wildwood, Gellies Rd and Bardwell Dr were hit by heavy vehicles about twice a year on average.

Proposed ban trucks on Konagaderra, Gellies, Wildwood Rd and Bardwell Dr. Picture: Supplied.

Hume council claims says the move would improve safety. Picture: Supplied.

In his report, Hume traffic co-ordinator Marvin Chen said the alignment, pavement, and narrow bridges on the roads were never designed to handle the high volumes of truck traffic, with up to 74 trucks using Bardwell Dr each day.

He said sharp turns, including a 180-degree hairpin bend on the Bardwell Dr approach to Konagaderra Rd, forced trucks to swing across lanes to complete turns, creating a major safety hazard.

The ban will cover one-way bridges on Bardwell Dr, Gellies Rd, and Wildwood Rd South.

While the one-way bridge on Wildwood Rd South wasn’t formally included in the truck ban, it would become inaccessible to trucks under the proposed changes as they would be unable to access Wildwood Rd.

Hume Council will vote on whether to ban trucks on Konagaderra, Gellies, Wildwood Rd and Bardwell Dr. Picture: Supplied.

Hume Council to ban trucks on rural roads. Picture: Supplied.

A community consultation in February 2023 attracted 390 submissions, with 82 per cent in favour of the ban.

Opponents argued it would unfairly impact truck owners who live on the affected roads.

The truck ban will cost $5000 to implement the ban, covering the installation of 10 signs.

Trucks would still be allowed to travel past “No Trucks” signs if they made a delivery or pick-up beyond the sign and there was no alternative route.

The council will be seeking formal sign-off from the Department of Transport and Planning to implement the ban.