The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and Queensland Police Service (QPS) will extend the trial for alternate escort arrangements for bridge girder movements until 18 December 2023. The trial will conclude with the commencement of the Christmas Curfew period as described in the Queensland Access Conditions Guide for oversized vehicles.
The trial extension is from 12:01am Wednesday, 12 April 2023 to 11:59pm Monday, 18 December 2023.
All permit applications must be submitted by 30 September 2023 to participate in the trial until 18December 2023. The timeframe will provide sufficient time for TMR and QPS to evaluate the trial outcomes.
Operators wishing to participate in the trial must apply for a National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) access permit.
Trial Eligibility
The following conditions must be met to be eligible for participation in the trial:
- An operator must have a permit issued by the NHVR before the journey commences.
- The load must consist of bridge girders. No other load types are considered.
- The oversize combination must not exceed the following dimensions:
- 47.5m in length
- 4.2m in width
- 4.6m in height
- Prescribed rear overhang (as per legislative requirements)
- At a minimum, 80% of the entire journey must be on dual carriageway roads with traffic travelling in the same direction.
- The movement must be accompanied by Escorts appointed under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Accreditation and Other Provisions) Regulation, Part 2, as an accredited person with the functions of an escort vehicle driver.
How to apply for a permit
When submitting an NHVR permit application (new or amendment), an operator must add the text 'BRIDGE GIRDER POLICY' into the permit application nickname field.
Application without the application nickname field text may not be considered for inclusion in the trial.
https://www.nhvr.gov.au/road-access/access-management/applications/oversize-overmass-permit
Traffic Management Plan Requirements
A Traffic Management Plan (TMP) must be submitted at the time of lodging an NHVR permit application.
The TMP aims to identify and mitigate traffic hazards and risks associated with the proposed movement and will assist TMR and QPS in assessing the suitability to participate in the trial.
When submitting the TMP, the operator must ensure they have appropriately addressed (at a minimum) the below considerations:
- roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in the movement,
- the proposed route,
- time of day the movements are to take place and identified risks and risk controls,
- number of movements per day/night,
- the time delay between each movement,
- any contra-flow (travel in opposing traffic lanes) travel for extended periods,
- signalised intersections where signal timing would be an issue,
- the vehicle swept path analysis to ensure turn manoeuvres will be appropriately managed,
- management of traffic entering from ramps and side roads adjoining the approved route,
- safe parking locations,
- ways to reduce the build-up of traffic,
- management of the movement in the event of adverse weather,
- details of the removal and replacement of any roadside furniture required along the route,
- communication between members of the movement,
- management of the escort entering the approved route via highway on-ramps merging into designated high-speed zones,
- incident management.
