By Benjamin Millar
Maribyrnong council has thrown its support behind community calls to introduce truck curfews and bans on Williamstown Road.
Star Weekly this month reported residents living along the road, which passes through Seddon, Yarraville and Kingsville, were furious that promised truck curfews were left out of a state government announcement on stricter curfews and speed limits on other key routes.
A Williamstown Road Advocacy report prepared for Wednesday night’s ordinary council meeting suggested the council advocate the state government to introduce freight curfews and a truck ban on Williamstown Road, where truck trips are projected to double to about 4000 per day by 2031.
The council also continues to push for improved north-south freight connections in the industrial precinct further west of the residential areas carrying the burden of the port’s growing freight load.
“Alternate north-south connections are required in appropriate locations to alleviate the expected increase in truck movements on Williamstown Road once the West Gate Tunnel is operational,” it stated.
“The Paramount Road extension is seen as the most viable and achievable north-south connection.”
The report suggested the council ask that truck curfews on Williamstown Road be immediately introduced and add the road to the list of local routes with 24/7 truck bans in place after the West Gate Tunnel opens in 2022.
The council will also push for the Paramount Road extension from Somerville Road to Geelong Road to be fast-tracked and for container storage to be moved closer to the port to alleviate future truck and traffic congestion.
