Just provide Trucks an alternative

Friday, May 04, 2007

Just provide Trucks an alternative

The Truck ban on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge is further evidence of the need for accelerating the completion of the Western by-pass to provide an alternative route north and south.

“Transit’s assertions that the “fatigue stress” has been caused by trucks is a bit rough on the industry” says National Road Carriers Executive Director Bruce Reid. “We are an easy target for blame as trucks are more visible than cars. The real issue is the increasing volume of vehicles, not just trucks. The temporary clip ons were fitted to help relieve the congestion moving north and south across the harbour, with the assumption that by 2007 investment in road and public transport infrastructure would be managing the projected increased volumes of vehicles.”

The Auckland Regional Councils call for Transit to start planning an additional harbour crossing 2 years now takes on a new urgency as has been promoted by Industry and the Auckland Business Forum for a number of years.

More importantly completing the Western Ring Route immediately would give relief from the volumes crossing the Harbour Bridge by diverting vehicles passing through Auckland around the city Manukau through to Albany.

National Road Carriers members appreciate safety remains the priority and note that it will be important to have the by-law introduced with an appropriate education campaign for general motorists on sharing the road with trucks. With additional lane changes required to access the centre lanes driver education will be needed on leaving appropriate space for merging, staying within sight of the trucks side mirrors and managing the narrower centre lanes of the bridge.”

ENDS

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