Slowly but surely – and perhaps not before time – improvements are being made to rest areas up and down the country.
In New South Wales, for example, work to upgrade two rest areas on the Newell Highway at Tycannah, south of Moree, has just begun.
The existing rest areas at Tycannah service the major long-haul interstate freight route linking Melbourne and Brisbane but currently have no toilets and no turning lanes.
The upgrades will include a reconfiguration of the rest areas to better accommodate extra-long vehicles, and also deceleration lanes at the entry of the rest areas to improve safety.
Separate caravan parking will be provided in both the northbound and southbound rest areas which also provides separate parking for light and heavy vehicles.
Many of the newer rest areas, like this one on the Hunter Expressway near Newcastle in NSW, have clearly separated areas for trucks and caravans. PIC: Cizza
The northbound rest area will also be extended by 150 metres as part of the work.
Work on the rest area upgrades is expected to take six months to complete.
Chair of the Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Steering Committee, Senator Glenn Sterle, said the improvement to rest areas would ensure motorists have access to safe, modern and accessible facilities along key freight routes.
“While this investment primarily caters for our essential truckers, this project will also provide practical rest area facilities and separate parking for light traffic and tourists towing caravans,” he said.
This announcement comes off the back of the recent opening of the Spring Creek rest area, about 12 kilometres north of Narrabri on the Newell Highway.
The Tycannah rest areas upgrade work is receiving $2.4 million in funding from the NSW government, and $9.6 million in funding through the Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Rest Area initiative under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, said it was an investment in safer, upgraded rest areas to support the people and freight that keep the north-west moving.
“These upgrades support a more efficient road network and encourage drivers to take proper breaks on long trips, meaning their journeys are safer and they get home to loved ones,” she said.
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I own a motorhome that is registered under the national truck legislation and I flat tow a car. I’m licensed to drive under the heavy truck (LR) category. I’m a bit confused about whether I go left or right with this signage. There are bigger motorhomes than mine and many converted buses on the road too. It’d be great if the laws, council parking and signage could be updated to be more inclusive and accurate.
There are not enough rest areas Australia wide. Especially with toilets. Why are councils and state governments so anti free camping. We need to vote for representives who support tourists above caravan parks.
Yes definately