SEATS strongly supports a bridge strengthening program on highways and major roads that improves freight productivity. A rolling program by the Australian Government together with the States over at least 10 years would significantly set the tone for Governments wanting to support industry.

Heavy vehicles are becoming larger configurations and capable of carrying heavier loads to deliver freight productivity gains and safety improvements for all types of industries.

An example is the Traralgon – Maffra Rd. It is an important freight corridor connecting to the Principal Freight Network and requires a number of bridges to be strengthened to avoid the likelihood of load limits in the future on freight movements from this very productive agricultural hinterland.

Currently three bridges are being strengthened, two on the Sale Alternate Truck Route and another on the Princes Highway at South Nowra.

The Australian Government has been supporting the haulage industry’s call for specific HV configurations to meet the needs of freight generating industries across the nation. In recent years with these improvements to the trucking fleet, many of the road assets and structures have had to be reassessed as fit for purpose and this evaluation has been led by the NHVR in conjunction with Councils. There is now emerging a list of assets needing to be upgraded to fulfil the emerging growth in the freight task.

This will continue to be an emerging problem for local government. To prepare funding proposals for road asset upgrades, the proponent requires data regarding movements/tonnages and this is often difficult to quantify and substantiate without the co-operation of hauliers and/or industry. The NHVR can assist with the asset assessment but the raw freight data is still the key!