DRIVERS travelling between Melbourne and Gippsland are warned of traffic disruptions over Sunday (January 11) to Monday (January 12) nights and one later in the month, as two 55-metre-long loads make their way from Glen Waverley to Hazelwood North.
There will be significant disruptions to traffic along the route at times, particularly when the loads travel on the wrong side of the road, resulting in rolling lane and intersection closures.
The Department of Transport and Planning ask motorists to be patient when encountering the loads in transit, and to follow the direction of the traffic controllers escorting the loads.
There will be no designated viewing opportunities available, so they are asking the community to stay well clear for their own safety when the loads are in transit and when parked.
Stopping on the freeway to view the loads is illegal, while drivers who fail to follow the direction of traffic management will delay this complex operation and may put themselves and others at risk. Penalties may be enforced by Victoria Police and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
Each load will make the journey over two nights – the first load travelling on Sunday, 11 and Monday, 12 January, and the second load on Sunday, 18 and Monday, 19 January.
Night one will result in disruptions from 11pm as the loads travel from Glen Waverley via EastLink, then along the Monash and Princes freeways from Rowville to Bunyip, arriving by the early morning.
On the second leg of the journey, the loads will set off on Monday night, travelling on the Princes Freeway from Bunyip to Hernes Oak. The loads will exit the freeway via Marretts Road and will continue along the Strezlecki Highway, Yinnar-Driffield Road, Yinnar Road, Brodribb Road, Monash Way and Bonds Lane.
The loads travel at speeds of up to 60km/h. When travelling over specific bridges or around corners, the loads will slow to around 5km/h.
Due to their 4.5-metre width, these loads will take up the entire width of some roads, however there will be limited opportunities to pass under supervision of the specialist support crew.
Traffic management officers and load escorts will accompany the load for the entire journey, making sure that roads are safe during and after the move. They will help to manoeuvre the vehicle safely around corners, temporarily removing signs and lights, placing steel supports over existing drainage and will then put everything back in place once the load has passed through.
Transport Victoria provides real-time traffic conditions and the latest public transport information at transport.vic.gov.au
