Bike riders in Melbourne’s inner west will experience a more attractive and less risky street riding environment from later this year after the West Gate Tunnel Project is completed.
Linking directly to the Port of Melbourne, the West Gate Tunnel gives big trucks a quick and direct route that will lure them under the suburbs of the inner west and away from the West Gate Bridge.
And to make sure the truckies don’t decide to take in the views through Footscray, Yarraville, Spotswood and Altona North on their way to the port, trucks will be banned from what are now busy truck routes through the inner west.
When the West Gate Tunnel goes live, 24-hour no-truck zones will be introduced on six key roads:
• Francis Street in Yarraville
• Somerville Road in Yarraville
• Buckley Street in Footscray
• Moore Street in Footscray
• Blackshows Road in Altona North
• Hudson Road in Spotswood
Some of these roads have regular riders on some sections, even bike facilities, but they can be frightening when the port traffic is surging.
With numbers of heavy trucks reduced from thousands a day to just a few, new options will open up for the development of local bikes routes through the region.
As well as being safer, the roads will be much quieter and less polluted.
The Department of Transport and Planning has linked with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to enforce the truck bans.
Hi-tech sensor cameras and AI software that can detect and categorise a vehicle’s exemption status will identify trucks that are in the wrong place and fines will be issued.
The new regulations will allow certain heavy vehicles to travel across No-Truck Zones including buses, tow trucks, concrete trucks and waste disposal trucks.
Two-axle trucks that aren’t transporting shipping containers will also be allowed to access No-Truck Zones ensuring the delivery of groceries, parcels and other services to residents across the inner west without disruption.
Motor homes, emergency service and police vehicles that are classed as heavy vehicles, as well as trucks that are garaged within No-Truck Zones, will be able to travel through these designated zones.
Exemptions will also apply for truck deliveries, construction or maintenance work and vehicle repairs and sales.
A major education campaign is getting underway to ensure that the freight and shipping sectors are fully availed of the new rules.
Or become our friend and subscribe to receive our fortnightly newsletter.