By Goya Dmytryshchak
Residents fear redevelopment plans by one of the world’s biggest glass manufacturers at Spotswood could threaten truck bans to be introduced in Hudsons Road once the West Gate Tunnel is built.
O-I Operations has applied to Hobsons Bay council to build two warehouses with five access points, including two in Hudsons Road, which will have a truck ban when the tunnel is completed in 2022.
The state government is implementing 24-hour truck bans on six local roads, including Hudsons Road, in response to modelling which identified these streets could become rat runs used by thousands of extra trucks a day.
Resident Jason Harrison said O-I’s plans to build two driveways in Hudsons Road threatened the truck ban.
“Simcock Avenue has served O-I glass well and there is no reason for them not to continue to use it – you could say the road exists for their use,” he said.
“It … leaves Hudsons Road open to truck use; it won’t take long for trucks to find our street open and dodge the new road and the tolls.
“Despite having the new on-ramps of the West Gate Tunnel literally 500 metres away from their operations, it would seem they still want to use the local roads.”
O-I has been at the Spotswood site since it acquired ACI Packaging in 1998.
A traffic report prepared by Impact consultants states that the plans will result in a reduction of 69 heavy vehicle movements in Hudsons Road and an increase of 60-67 in Booker Street and Simcock Avenue.
“Following the completion of the West Gate Tunnel project, convenient access between the freeway network and the subject site will be available via Simcock Avenue and Hyde Street,” it states.
“This improved access to the freeway network will coincide with the introduction of 24 hour truck bans on six local roads.”
Bans don’t apply to trucks that have destinations or origins in the area or are loading and unloading in the area.
“Accordingly, trucks with an origin and or destinations to the subject site will be permitted to leverage Hudsons Road,” the report stated.
ProUrban, acting for O-I, did not respond to Star Weekly’s request for comment.
