Swan Valley road train curfews lifted

• Weekend curfew lifted on road trains between 30 and 36.5 metres long
• Weekday curfew lifted on 7.5 to 8.5 metre wide loads

Following a successful trial, road train and oversize load curfews on the Upper Swan section of Great Northern Highway have been removed permanently.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the trial, from May 28 to October 9, showed that the lifting of the weekend curfew created a more even spread of heavy vehicle movements through the Upper Swan.

"Prior to the trial, vehicles would have to wait for the expiry of the weekend curfew before they could move in road train configuration, otherwise they would have to move single trailers, which meant they had to break-up or assemble road trains at Apple Street," Mr Buswell said.

"This effectively increased the number of heavy vehicle movements through the Swan Valley, in some cases from one to three, and created unnecessary traffic congestion along the highway.

"Following a review by Main Roads, and consultation with community and industry stakeholders, including significant input from local MLC Alyssa Hayden, we conducted the trial, which showed the lifting of the curfew offered improved transport efficiency to operators.

"More importantly, it had benefits for road safety due to a more even spread of heavy vehicle traffic throughout the week.

"It is also timely also to lift the curfew in view of the fact that this section of the highway has been upgraded substantially in recent times with passing lanes and turning pockets."

One of the curfews previously applied to all road trains from 30 metres long up to a maximum length of 36.5 metres, except for vehicles carrying livestock.  These road trains were not permitted to travel along Great Northern Highway through the Swan Valley between the hours of 9am and 6pm on weekends and public holidays.

The Minister said a long-standing weekday metropolitan curfew had also been lifted - for the movement of oversized loads between 7.5 metres and 8.5 metres in width, under police escort.

"These moves were previously only allowed on weekends, but those which do not require overhead power lines to be lifted will now be allowed from Monday to Thursday between 10am and 2pm to ease the congestion over the weekend," he said.

       Fact File

• Over the trial period an average of 156 roads trains travelled on the Great Northern Highway through the Swan Valley between 9am and 6pm on Saturdays, and 96 on Sundays

Minister's office - 9213 6900