While this week saw a milestone project officially open to traffic receive key heavy vehicle permit updates, there are still plenty of road updates issued for truck drivers around the nation.
This week’s Friday Road Update from OwnerDriver takes you from the road project announced in the Pilbara to the details of a recently opened Queensland bypass and a variety of road closures on the way.
Queensland
Heavy vehicle permit conditions for Gympie Bypass
It’s good news for truckies travelling along the Bruce Highway, with the upgrade to Cooroy to Curra, known as the Gympie Bypass, officially open to traffic.
The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) developed Class 1, 2 and 3 notices to accommodate a transition period and provide heavy vehicle operators who hold current permits on the Bruce Highway via Gympie (Old Bruce Highway) access to the new bypass without the need to apply for a route amendment permit.
These notices have since expired, with heavy vehicle operators now required to apply for a route amendment should they require access.
To be eligible under either notice, heavy vehicle operators must be issued with an NHVR permit (Classes 1, 2 or 3) from before October 24 or have a permit that provides authorisation on the section of the Old Bruce Highway.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) National Network Map has also been updated to reflect applicable gazetted networks on the bypass, remaining unchanged on the Old Bruce Highway and being replicated on the new bypass.
TMR has thanked the industry for its patience during construction, looking forward to the “many benefits” the new bypass will provide.
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Christmas and New Year Oversize vehicle restrictions
The Queensland TMR department has revealed the travel restrictions in place for certain oversize Class 1 and 3 heavy vehicles in Queensland over the Christmas and New Year period.
Found in the Queensland Access Conditions Guide for oversize heavy vehicles, the guide applies to all oversize heavy vehicles other than an agricultural vehicle or combination.
The restrictions mean an oversize vehicle or combination movements which require more than one pilot or escort vehicles aren’t permitted to travel in Queensland from 12.01am on Thursday December 19 until 11.59pm on Thursday January 2, 2025.
An oversize vehicle or combination won’t be allowed to travel from 12 noon on Monday December 23 until 11.59pm on January 2, 2025.
Before travelling, operators need to ensure they comply with the exception provided in various sections of the guide, including oversize vehicles or combinations travelling in the Cooper Basin Region where travel is directly involved with liquified Natural Gas or mining activities, special purpose vehicles (SPVs) up to 3.5m, SPV combinations, Class 1 vehicles or conditionally registered oversize vehicles travelling to or from unplanned repairs to public utilities, natural disasters and other emergencies.
Kuranda Range Road reconstruction works announced
From November 18, TMR will begin reconstruction works on Kuranda Range Road at locations damaged during Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
Most of the work will be carried out at night between 7pm and 5am to minimise traffic disruptions, with night closures starting from November 24 until December 6 from 9pm until 4am.
No scheduled closures will occur on Friday or Saturday nights, with traffic to be let through from the top of Kuranda Range Road at 11.30pm and from the bottom at Smithfield at midnight.
TMR says road users should be in queue by these times as traffic will only be let through once in each direction, with the road to then close again until 4am.
Works will include upslope and downslope reconstruction works due to more than 30 landslips being identified, with a variety of geotechnical controls to stabilise the sites.
Three high priority sites will be focused on, with two currently under single lane traffic control for safety due to the damage of the cyclone.
Due to the severity of the damage on the Kuranda Range Road and across multiple Far North Queensland state-controlled roads, repairs will take some time.
Following the completion of extensive geotechnical investigations and significant work on detailed design, the reconstruction contract has been awarded and the first works will commence in November 2024. All works are targeted to be completed by mid-2026.
TMR will coordinate any temporary road closures to minimise impacts to road users as much as possible across the region.
Western Australia
Major Pilbara road upgrades underway
The Western Australian governments has announced safety upgrades to one of the Pilbara region’s most notable roads is officially underway.
About 92km of Marble Bar Road will be upgraded to a two-lane sealed road, improving road safety and access to remote Aboriginal communities while further unlocking the economic potential of the region through better connections to mine sites.
An 8km deviation around Nullagine will also be constructed, improving road safety and reducing noise through the town.
The project will be delivered in seven stages, with the first 15km section near Roy Hill now underway, and work on a further 23km of road expected to commence in the coming weeks.
The upgrades will enable safer travel for all road users, as well as heavy vehicle operators carting ore from a number of mines in the area.
The upgrade is being funded and delivered by Atlas Iron with the state government committing $60 million towards the project. The upgrades are expected to be completed by late 2025.
“This project is a great example of our government funding projects that deliver across a number of critical areas including road safety, economic growth and better access to remote Aboriginal communities,” WA transport minister Rita Saffioti says.
“The Pilbara is critical to Western Australia’s economy and improving freight productivity, and road safety is something this government is committed to.
“This is another great example of our government working with private enterprise to boost productivity and ensure long-term employment opportunities for local residents.”
New South Wales
Tooleybuc Bridge closures extended
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) says changed traffic conditions will remain in place for all vehicles on the Tooleybuc Bridge from 8pm and 4am, Sunday to Friday, until December 6.
The closures will mean all vehicles will be detoured via Nyah Bridge, accessed via Koraleigh Road and Speewa Road, with motorists advised to allow around 30 minutes extra travel time.
Hexham Bridge changes
Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions this week on Hexham Bridge at Hexham to carry out maintenance work.
The southbound bridge will be closed during the work, which includes deck repairs and essential maintenance.
Work will be carried out at night from 9pm to 5am from Sunday November 17 to Wednesday November 20 and Sunday November 24 to Tuesday November 26.
The work is expected to be completed in seven shifts over two weeks, weather permitting.
The southbound bridge will re-open to traffic outside of working hours and non-working days.
Operators of oversize and/or overmass vehicles with a ground contact wider than 3.2-metres or with overall width wider than 4.5-metres are advised to contact the project team at least five days ahead of movement on 0428 259 730. Significant delays can occur through failure to make prior contact.
Vehicles travelling under a permit must not travel off the approved route listed in the permit unless an updated permit is obtained from the National Heavy Vehicle Register.