Townsville truck stop announced for triple roadtrains

Trucks battling congestion for access to the Port of Townsville are set to benefit from a $4.5 million staging area that will cater to B-triples and other super combinations it was announced this week.

Local contractors are invited to tender later this year on the project which will improve travel times, safety and cut down truck queues outside of the port.

The 1.5 hectare designated staging area on Benwell Road includes upgrades to roads around the boundary of the port as it seeks efficiencies as part of a growth strategy according to Scott Stewart Member for Townsville.

“Triple road trains are currently unable to turn from Benwell Road into Hubert Street, so the Port is also designing an upgrade of the intersection to improve heavy vehicle access,” he said.

Despite major flooding in the region earlier this year, the Port of Townsville has increased total trade for the 2018-19 financial year with 7.68 million tonnes moved through it.

A new Crane and Cargo Terminal costing $30 million is part of half a billion dollar allocation announced by the Queensland Government to improve transport infrastructure to the port.

Queensland Trucking Association CEO Gary Mahon said the staging area would support safer and more efficient freight movements.

“Facilities like these not only mean less congestion for truck drivers, they also provide safe places to stop while they’re accessing the port,” he said.

“Ports are busy places so the local road network needs to be up to a good standard to handle frequent heavy vehicle traffic.”

The project includes a new paved and asphalted area for heavy trucks, mobile guard hut, shower and toilet facilities and new lighting and security cameras.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the works were another example of the Port of Townsville investing in infrastructure to support long-term growth.

“The Port of Townsville is critical to Northern Australia’s economy, with international trade passing through it valued at around $9 billion annually,” he said.

“The $193 million Townsville Channel Upgrade Project, construction of a port rail link, six new berths and plans to create 150 hectares of new port land will ensure Townsville’s publicly-owned port has the right infrastructure to meet growing demand for international trade," said Bailey.