Trucks have been banned from one of the inner-west’s busiest routes during school crossing times.
Curfews on Francis Street at Yarraville have been extended to cover morning pick-up and drop-off times.
The 8-9.30am and 2.30-4pm bans near Wembley Primary School follow the introduction of a similar curfew last year outside Kingsville Primary School on Somerville Road.
Visiting Francis Street on Monday to announce the curfews, Roads and Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan said similar bans on Somerville Road had led to a 71 per cent decline in truck volumes.
“It’s just a continuation of the work that the government is doing in terms of removing the trucks off inner-city streets of the west,” he said.
“It’s very much a community effort and an industry effort. The VTA [Victorian Transport Association] has done a lot of good work on this, and it’s one of their initiatives to work with the community and provide a safer, more enjoyable environment.”
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan said the curfew would follow work done last year to install a red light and speed camera on the corner of Wembley Avenue and Francis Street.
He said the school community approached him last year following the decrease in truck traffic along Somerville Road.
“There’s indication that when you place curfews on some roads, trucks will use others … but this is a choice to prioritise the safety of the community, particularly children going to and from school.”
Night-time and weekend curfews were introduced on sections of Francis Street and Somerville Road in 2001.
Maribyrnong mayor Cameron McDonald said the council was happy the truck curfews had been extended to cover school times.
“The locals have wanted it forever … it’s a good outcome all round.”
Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson said he had worked with the school to find a solution.
“I canvassed a lot of the operators and they agreed it would be okay to put on the school time curfews,” he said.
School crossing supervisor Carlos Klepichek was happy. “I was fighting to get the speed camera, pushing pushing, and now this.”
