Yarraville: Semi squeeze prompts plea to stop truck ‘rat runs’

Yarraville traders were in disbelief after a large semi-trailer negotiated its way down a narrow street last Friday afternoon.

The truck was photographed as it turned around the tight bend at the intersection of Anderson, Willis and Schild streets.

Maribyrnong Truck Action Group president Samantha McArthur said more large container trucks were trying to avoid congestion on designated truck routes, using side streets in Yarraville and Kingsville as ‘rat runs’ to the Port of Melbourne.

“It’s just another example of why we need these large container trucks off our residential streets,” she said.

Maribyrnong mayor Grant Miles said the council had received reports of trucks using side streets to avoid truck routes. “Common sense would show that Yarraville village is not the place for semi-trailers,” he said.

“Both ends of Anderson Street have ‘no truck’ signs, which are enforceable only by VicRoads and Victoria Police.

‘‘I’m amazed the semi-trailer even managed to fit through the village.”

A VicRoads spokesman said the incident was being investigated.