Parents of children at the three primary schools along Somerville Road in Yarraville are fuming at a massive increase in truck traffic past the schools last week.
The trucks had been forced to take an alternative route while resurfacing work closed Francis Street, which carries about 6000 trucks and 20,000 vehicles a day.
Despite VicRoads officially detouring Francis Street traffic on to the West Gate Freeway, parents and residents say they witnessed chaos caused by a substantial rise in the number of trucks using Somerville Road, particularly during school hours.
Narelle Wilson said she was appalled at having to expose her two daughters at Kingsville Primary School to dangerous diesel fumes.
“All day from Monday to Thursday there was a permanent line of trucks idling outside the school,” she said. “VicRoads was supposedly detouring trucks via the West Gate Freeway, but there didn’t seem to be any level of enforcement.”
Ms Wilson said she saw B-double trucks unlawfully using the route and other parents reported trucks using residential Yarraville streets such as Severn and Roberts streets.
Parents vented their frustration on social media and a number raised their concerns with VicRoads. Ms Wilson said she took her complaints directly to VicRoads but is yet to receive a response.
VicRoads regional director Patricia Liew said the resurfacing works on Francis Street between Williamstown Road and Roberts Street were essential to complete before winter.
“The works were needed to remove the ruts and dips in the road and create a smoother driving surface for local traffic,” she said.
“VicRoads spoke with the City of Maribyrnong, local schools and residents and communicated the works via a media alert and newspaper advertising in advance of the works.
“During the closure, the majority of Francis Street traffic was detoured via the West Gate Freeway, with access for locals via Somerville Road.”
Transport Safety Services officers were on site for 12 hours during the works.
