Work to upgrade two rest areas on the Newell Highway south of Moree, New South Wales, has begun.
These works will improve the northbound and southbound rest areas, on both sides of the Newell Highway at Tycannah, to the particular benefit of heavy vehicle drivers.
The existing rest areas at Tycannah service the major long-haul interstate freight route linking Melbourne, Victoria, to Brisbane, Queensland, but currently have no toilets or turning lanes.
These upgrades will include a reconfiguration of the rest areas to better accommodate extra-long vehicles, and also deceleration lanes at the entry of the rest areas to improve safety.
Additionally, separate parking will be provided for both light and heavy vehicles, as well as caravans.
According to Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Steering Committee Chair, Glenn Sterle, these road works will greatly contribute to the safety of freight movers and other motorists.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting Australia’s freight network, we’re improving critical rest areas like Tycannah to ensure our truck drivers have access to safe, modern and accessible facilities along key freight routes,” he said.
“While this investment primarily caters for our essential truckers, this project will also provide practical rest area facilities and separate parking for light traffic and tourists towing caravans.”
NSW Labor Duty MLC for Northern Tablelands, Peter Primrose, said the project is a critical step towards ensuring road safety.
“We are working with the road freight industry to improve the quantity and quality of heavy vehicle rest stops across the state,” he said.
“Fatigue is one of the top three contributors to serious heavy vehicle crashes on NSW roads, so these improvements help drivers comply with the national fatigue legislation while helping reduce the incidence of crashes involving heavy vehicles in the north-west region.”
Work on the rest area upgrades is expected to take six months to complete.
Work will be carried out between 7am and 5pm on weekdays and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays, with no work on Sundays or public holidays.
Changed traffic conditions including single lane closures and temporary rest area closures will be in place during the upgrade for the safety of workers and motorists.
In other news, Fonterra’s farmer shareholders have approved the co-operative’s sale of its Mainland Group business to Lactalis for $4.22 billion.
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