By Alesha Capone
RESIDENTS of a Spotswood road have asked for their area’s truck curfew to be brought into line with a nearby Yarraville street’s restrictions, amid safety and noise concerns.
Hudsons Rd resident Stuart Clark said the present curfew times were 9pm to 5am, seven days a week.
“Francis St, Yarraville curfew times are 8pm to 6am Monday to Saturday and 1pm to 6am Saturday to Monday,” he said.
“As a resident on Hudsons Rd, all we ask is that we align with the same curfew times as Yarraville residents.
“Hudsons Rd becomes an alternate route outside Francis St curfew hours.
“We are a smaller community than Yarraville but should not be any less important. Five AM is too early to endure truck noise, especially the speeds some trucks do.
“At this time of the morning when there is less pedestrian presence, drivers usually disregard the speed limits.”
Fellow residents Jacinta Van Liempd and Mark Howland said their home’s verandah had been damaged by trucks.
“We think it’s such a nice street with a shopping strip with an iconic Melbourne landmark at the end, Scienceworks,” Ms Van Liempd said.
“To have these big trucks coming through is more than anyone wants to know, the emphasis is that many trucks come through very fast sometimes and at all hours.
“I think it’s about time they pulled these people up.”
A fellow resident said she “hears trucks in the street all the time”.
“There is an increasing number of trucks in that area and particularly B-doubles,” she said.
“We expected that they would decrease when the West Gate Bridge work was completed however the high volume has continued.
“They are on the road 24 hours a day. If there is a night curfew, it is not being observed.
“They are noisy and the larger ones, B-doubles, cause our house to vibrate, pictures constantly moving on the walls, etc.
“For example, it is so bad that at night, in bed, we can feel the gear changes as the trucks slow to reach Melbourne Rd or accelerate down Hudsons Rd.”
Hobsons Bay City Council acting director of works and assets Marg Scanlon said the council “has undertaken an existing conditions road safety audit in Hudsons Rd, Spotswood from Melbourne Rd to the railway line”.
“This report will provide a list of recommendations for the council to determine what action needs to be taken in respect to signage, line markings and pavement repairs,” she said.
“The council has not approached VicRoads regarding changing the curfew signage.”
