SWAN Hill transport companies are united over the poor timing of a weight limit reduction on the Swan Hill bridge over Murray.
While all companies contacted by The Guardian agreed safety came first, frustration was brewing over a lack of urgency shown by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) to get repairs done.
Coming on the eve of the stone fruit and grain harvest season a load restriction of 15 tonne forces haulage companies to send their trucks up to one hour out of their way with many diverting via Tooleybuc to cross the Murray.
“Certainly the time of the year is nearly as bad as it gets for us,” Daryl Pickering of Pickering Transport said on Friday.
“We rely on the stone fruit for our existence, cartage which is only just starting to fire up now.
“Since they put the restriction in place on Thursday they have done very little to get the repairs done.”
Still on Sunday there was no sign of work on the bridge.
“Why couldn’t they of done something about this months ago?” Frank Capone, logistics manager from Pearson’s Transport asked.
Meanwhile the question of a bridge replacement for Swan Hill was firmly back on the agenda.
“This is what you get when you have a bridge built before the 1900s and designed for horse and cart still operating in 2015,” Mr Pickering said.
Leader of The Nationals Victoria and member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said he was concerned with the situation and had contacted the NSW minister for roads Duncan Gay, however was still waiting for a call back.
“I’m appalled at the lack of urgency the NSW department for roads has displayed on this issue,” he said.
“I don’t think they understand just what this does to the Swan Hill regional economy.”
Safety concerns were raised by RMS on Wednesday last week when preparation for upcoming work “found serious damage to the bridge pier that required urgent action for the safety of pedestrians and motorists,” a RMS spokesperson said.
Although the 15 tonne restriction was put in place last Thursday poor signage on the New South Wales side of the bridge saw heavy vehicles still using the bridge over the weekend.
The Guardian investigated yesterday and found the electronic signs placed by RMS at the Swan Hill-Barham Road turn off had not been turned on, although equivalent electronic signage on the Victorian side on McCallum Street was operating.
The only signage found on the New South Wales side was a small updated load limit sign at the entrance to the bridge, giving trucks no where to turn around.
“Roads and Maritime understands the weight limit may impact some operators, but the safety of road users is the highest priority,” a RMS spokesperson said on Friday.
“Information about the closure and detours was also provided to affected heavy vehicle classes, operators, local councils and MPs.
“The reduced load limit is enforceable and heavy vehicle operators must be vigilant and follow the signage in place.
“Roads and Maritime heavy vehicle inspectors will be carrying out warning operations in the area to help prevent trucks travelling across the bridge.”
The load limit could be in place for up to three months.
