Community push for truck curfews rejected for traffic concerns
A long-running campaign for night curfews along Williamstown Rd and Millers Rd in Melbourne’s inner west has been blocked. This is why.
VIC News
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A long-running push for curfews along two busy truck corridors in Melbourne’s inner west has been knocked back because it would push too much traffic to other streets.
Residents’ groups campaigning to reduce truck numbers on Williamstown Rd in Yarraville and Millers Rd in Brooklyn were on Thursday told night curfews were not possible.
Modelling completed by the Department of Transport showed banning trucks on the two key routes would push too many vehicles to other areas not capable of handling a surge in traffic.
Thousands of trucks are expected to drive down the two roads each night by 2031.
Robyn Seymour, the department’s deputy secretary of network planning, said curfews would also put too much pressure on nearby Grieve Pde if introduced.
“We’re disappointed we’re not going to give these communities those curfews that they really wanted,” he said. “But Williamstown Rd and Millers Rd are arterials that carry heavy vehicles.
“We need to work with both communities to mitigate the impacts.”
The department will also install new fencing at key intersections in Footscray and Yarraville to protect children and parents travelling to local schools near truck routes.
At least six other streets near the Port of Melbourne will have 24-hour bans once the West Gate Tunnel is completed.
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Kingsville resident and Save Willy Rd spokesman Graeme Hammond said locals would be upset by the department’s decision.
He said a separate corridor study, due to report in August this year, had also been abruptly cancelled without any recommendations.
“They have ignored the role Grieve Pde could play as a dedicated truck route,” he said.
“It just tells me and other residents the whole thing was a pretence.
“There is no benefit for people who live here and no solutions proposed.”
Mr Hammond said extending Grieve Pde would help it handle more heavy vehicles and allow curfews to be introduced in more residential areas.
“It would benefit truck drivers and the residential community,” he said.
Hobsons bay City Council is calling for the road to be a dedicated truck route and is currently studying transport infrastructure options in the area.