Austroads Guidelines for Assessing Heavy Vehicle Access (2008)

Client

AUSTROADS (in conjunction with the ALGA)

Project Description

The guidelines are designed to provide information that will help all those involved in the process of applying for and assessing applications for access by heavy and restricted access vehicles to local roads. This is facilitated by increasing understanding of the impacts of freight on local roads and by providing advice on how to effectively and more transparently undertake assessments of applications The freight task across Australia and New Zealand is growing in size and complexity. Urban and rural industries are changing their way of working so that the role of freight in productive processes is increasing, the patterns of travel are changing and vehicles are becoming more productive in order to meet these demands. All of these changes have impacts on the amount of travel and the loads carried by trucks on roads. This in turn leads to a range of environmental, safety, cost and amenity outcomes. Depending on local circumstances these outcomes can be positive or negative.

InfraPlan Involvement

InfraPlan, in association with Geoff Anson Consulting, were commissioned by Austroads to develop the Guidelines of Assessing Heavy Vehicle Access on Local Roads. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide information and an easy -to-follow process that will inform and guide local government, the freight sector and state agencies to:

• Improve the level of understanding of all parties – council officers, councillors, freight operators and state agencies - when considering heavy vehicle and restricted access vehicle (HV/RAV) access to local roads.
• Provide information to assist staff with the process to apply when assessing applications for heavy vehicle access.
• Improve the level of consistency and transparency in decision-making across the country.

This document is available through AUSTROADS.