The Truck Action Plan is a key initiative of the $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan, announced by the Victorian Government in December 2008. This project aims to reduce truck use of inner-western residential streets and improve freight access from the west to the Port of Melbourne.
The Victorian Transport Plan outlines a two stage Truck Action Plan. The first stage of the plan is being managed and delivered by VicRoads and is called the Truck Action Plan project.
The Truck Action Plan involves the construction of new ramps connecting the West Gate Freeway and Hyde Street, South Yarraville.
Hyde Street and Whitehall Street (and Francis Street between) will be upgraded and Shepherd Bridge strengthened to ensure appropriate access for heavy vehicles.
The Truck Action Plan is expected to reduce the number of number of trucks using Francis Street and Somerville Road by around 70 per cent or around 5,000 each week day.
For more information on the Truck Action Plan, please telephone 1300 130 176.
View map for the Truck Action Plan
The second stage in combination with the Westgate Bridge Alternative tunnel project is called WestLink and is being managed and delivered by Linking Melbourne Authority.
The Victorian Transport Plan sets clear strategic directions for transport into the future.
This is unprecedented in scope and scale with more than $38 billion in projects and initiatives. VicRoads will deliver many of these projects as part of the integrated plan.
These projects will link our communities by closing gaps, reducing congestion and improving safety on our road network.
For general information on the Victorian Transport Plan, please visit Department of Transport Website.
- Truck Action Plan announced as part of VTP in December 2008;
- Major engineering investigations contract tender advertised;
- Engineering investigation awarded to AECOM Pty Ltd;
- Preliminary studies completed including: flora & fauna, geotechnical, cultural heritage;
- Discussions held with key stakeholders, such as:
Maribyrnong City Council, Hobson’s Bay City Council, local MP's, CSR, Port of Melbourne, ExxonMobil, Friends of Stony Creek and the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group;
- Community engagement sessions held, feedback collated and delivered to consultants;
- Investigation of 26 broad possible route options completed and shortlisted;
- Project design determined and evaluation criteria established;
- Shortlisted options are being evaluated on:
traffic modelling, concept geometric designs and impacts of each option;
- Specialist studies are nearing completion for the short-listed options covering:
social impact, flora, fauna and aquatic biology, business impact, cultural heritage, surface water and hydrology, land use planning, risk management and delivery strategy;
- Investigation works on Shepherd Bridge strengthening are complete and design of the strengthening solution has commenced.
Consultation on the Truck Action Plan has already begun through public consultations and meetings with key stakeholders.
The essential parts of community engagement and input were completed in July 2009 through a series of community forums. Community feedback was considered by independent consultants (AECOM) as part of their design and engineering investigations.
View Community presentation [PDF, 766KB, 22pp]
View Community Input & Feedback Report [PDF, 348KB, 8pp]
Phase 1: input into design options and engineering investigations via
- four community forums held in 13 -17 July 2009
- written correspondence & individual meetings till end August 2009
Phase 2: preferred option report back by November2009
- online and via public information sessions
Phase 3: formal planning approvals process & statutory exhibition (once planning scheme
amendment program has been determined).
Phase 4: practical input on traffic management & construction considerations
(once construction program has been determined).
The community sessions, in July, included a presentation, displays of maps, and opportunities to ask questions and learn more about the Truck Action Plan and its progress.
To keep you informed and up-to-date with the Truck Action Plan's progress newsletters have been produced.
It is an opportunity to engage with the issues and communicate with the project team, asking questions or seeking clarification on any news or information you read. To receive the newsletter email tap@roads.vic.gov.au.
Previous editions of the newsletter are also available:
TAP Update #1, 09 July 2009 [PDF, 198KB, 2pp]
TAP Update #2, 05 October 2009 [PDF, 221KB, 2pp]
If you would like to view the Truck Action Plan study area and neighbouring sites you can do so by downloading the Google Earth Place file.
Truck Action Plan Project- VicRoads [KMS, 6KB].To view this file you must have google earth installed, which you can do via
http://earth.google.com/.
The Truck Action Plan aims to reduce the number of trucks using residential streets in Melbourne’s inner west.
It will also enhance connectivity for freight vehicles wanting to travel to and from the West Gate Freeway and improve access to the Port of Melbourne precinct.
It involves constructing a new connection between Hyde Street and the West Gate Freeway. Hyde and Whitehall Streets will be upgraded and Shepherd Bridge strengthened to ensure appropriate access for heavy vehicles. The ramps will face west to reduce the pressure on the West Gate Bridge.
There are currently a large number of trucks using residential streets in Melbourne’s inner west. Trucks currently use these streets to make important journeys to and from the Port of Melbourne.
These truck numbers will continue to grow as the demand to move freight to service Melbourne's growth increases.
The Truck Action Plan will improve social amenity and liveability by reducing the number of number of trucks using Francis Street and Somerville Road.
When announced, as part of the Victorian Transport Plan, the Truck Action Plan was proposed to have two stages.
Stage one of the Truck Action Plan is noted in the VTP as a short term solution. Stage two is the upgrade of Paramount Road, Dempster Street and Sunshine Road to provide an appropriate freight route, and is noted in the VTP as a medium term project.
Stage one is a new connection that will be built off the West Gate Freeway to the Port precinct via Hyde and Whitehall Streets, Yarraville.
Stage two of the Truck Action Plan has been integrated with the new road tunnel project to be built between the Port of Melbourne and West Footscray, and is now managed by Linking Melbourne Authority.
No, a tunnel is not part of the Truck Action Plan, managed by VicRoads.
The second stage of the Truck Action Plan, the upgrade of Paramount Rd and Sunshine Rd, in combination with the Westgate Bridge Alternative tunnel project is called WestLink and is being managed and delivered by Linking Melbourne Authority.
Linking Melbourne Authority can be contacted on 03 8562 6800 or via their website.
The project is anticipated to cost around $380,000,000. A funding contribution from Infrastructure Australia (Commonwealth Government) will be sought for this project.
Detailed engineering investigations are being undertaken to determine the social, environmental and economic factors relating to the project. This planning work involves community consultation and is expected to be complete by the end of this year.
Several opportunities for community input have already passed. VicRoads held a series of community information sessions in July.
If you have any question or comments please contact the VicRoads project team.
If you would like to speak to someone about the Truck Action Plan, please telephone 1300 130 176. Or ask a question by email or to be kept informed of the project with updates email tap@roads.vic.gov.au with your details.
If you would like to view a complete list of projects go to Victorian Transport Plan project index.
If you would like to view the map for Truck Action Plan and other maps go to Victorian Transport Plan Maps