With the roads getting ever more busy and the number of fatigue-related accidents a growing concern, a more intense spotlight will inevitably fall on the standard and frequency of our roadside rest areas.
In many parts of the country, grey nomads and other road users say there is a dire lack of safe places to pull over and take a break. There are also common complaints about the standard of facilities at the areas which do exist.
In some places though, progress is being made. In the Illawarra region of New South Wales, for example, a new $8.1 million heavy vehicle rest area has just been opened to benefit more than 3,500 northward bound trucks and recreational vehicles which use the Mount Ousley stretch of the Princes Motorway each day.
The facility was jointly funded by the federal and NSW governments, has 10 dedicated parking spaces for trucks, as well as spaces for cars and caravans, sheltered picnic tables, toilets and coffee vendor on-site.
New South Wales Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey, said the upgraded Mount Ousley heavy vehicle rest area was a win for everybody.
“Anything that helps to manage fatigue when it comes to heavy vehicle drivers certainly creates a safer environment for all road users,” Mrs Pavey said. “This is an important project and the end result is vital safety improvements for motorists in the region.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward said the project had addressed a long standing issue for the community.
“A temporary northbound heavy vehicle parking bay had been operating at the former toll gate site on the M1 Princes Motorway near Waterfall, which was not ideal,” he said. “This temporary arrangement will now close with the opening of the upgraded rest area, while two permanent heavy vehicle rest areas remain located nearby on Picton Road.”
More on the New Motorway the National Highway North on the East Coast of NSW.
Is there a map we can print off Please . Thank you.
How the hell did it cost 8.1 ????
Centrelink must have built it
Ecause they had to partially dig away a mountain, create a road base sufficient for b-double vehicles and connect utilities from a substantial distance away. It’s taken over 18 months to make. Good thorough job done. Look forward to using it on next visit.
The rest areas on the Hunter Expressway are awesome. Great toilets, covered areas with picnic tables, rest areas for truckies and cars. So good, in fact, that mobile coffee businesses have set up during the day. On some occasions during my many, many trips between Newcastle hospitals and Singleton, I’ve pulled over for a quick ten-minute power nap! (Just keep a watch out for the old fella in a blotchy green uniform dozing in his Commonwealth car) These should be the model for the nation’s highways.