Livestock trucks get green light to travel through CityLink tunnels in 12-month trial to improve Southbank safety

Concerns over dangerous livestock trucks using Southbank streets has prompted the state government to take action.

Livestock trucks will be able to travel through Melbourne’s two CityLink tunnels in a 12-month trial from early next year.

The move is expected to take up to 600 heavy vehicles off City Rd, Southbank, every week.

The trial has been brokered by the state government, the freight industry, the City of Melbourne and toll road operator Transurban in response to safety and hygiene concerns on local streets.

It also follows the horrific accident in late July when a dairy cattle truck slammed into a South Yarra bridge, resulting in the deaths of almost two dozen cows.

It is believed the driver drove down City Rd but missed the freeway turn-off at the Swan Street Bridge.

Cattle on the street after the truck crash in South Yarra. Picture: Farm Transparency Project

It is believed the driver drove down City Rd but missed the freeway turn-off at the Swan Street Bridge. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne will on Wednesday announce the 12-month trial so large livestock trucks will avoid streets including City Rd, Power St, Olympic Boulevard and Hoddle St.

“This trial is a win-win for our city and our freight industry,” Ms Horne said.

“By taking livestock trucks off inner-city streets and into the tunnels, we’re improving road safety while also keeping our freight sector moving.”

Calls for livestock trucks to be taken off City Rd date back to 2019. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Livestock trucks have been banned from the Domain and Burnley tunnels because of the risk of hitting low-clearance infrastructure, but recent improvements have increased the clearance.

Extra signs and road markings will be added on arterial roads.

Transurban Australian markets executive Nicole Green said road safety was paramount for the company.

“We’ve been making changes to our tunnel infrastructure in recent years and this, coupled with modernisation of vehicles transporting livestock, has made using the tunnels a viable option,” she said.

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood last week called for livestock trucks to be taken off City Rd, Southbank.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece​​ said taking trucks off City Rd would save lives and create safer and cleaner streets for Southbank residents.

Mr Reece first raised the issue in 2019, saying that animal-laden heavy vehicles, including B-doubles, were not suitable for the busy business, residential and tourist suburb.

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood raised the problem as an election issue last week, telling the Herald Sun that he would push for a change to “improve the safety, amenity and overall liveability” of Southbank residents.

Petrol tankers will continue to use City Rd and Power St, Southbank.

Although livestock trucks will be allowed in the tunnels, placarded loads such as petrol tankers will still have to re-route through Southbank.

The busy City Rd-Power St intersection was redesigned in recent years to improve safety.

Government figures show that freight volumes are predicted to increase from about 360 million tonnes in 2014 to nearly 900 million tonnes by 2051.