Truckies mark Foster Hill as a dangerous stretch of road

THE POOR condition of the South Gippsland Highway together with reduced speed limits along sections is causing safety issues and increased costs for heavy vehicle operators and freight carriers.

The South Gippsland Highway is part of the Victorian High Productivity Freight Network and has been rated to carry up to 85 tonne on the roads, but this has become unfeasible according to Mike Munday, CEO of Peter Stoitse Transport (PST).  

PTS specialises in general freight and bulk liquid transport and their primary route is from the Yarram area through Welshpool and Foster towards Leongatha. 

One stretch of this essential freight route in particular is becoming increasingly dangerous for truckies and motorists around them and is the Foster Hill.

The road surface on the hill has degraded over the years, exposing the tar and leaving very little pebble on the surface. 

“The tyres on the trucks have trouble gripping, we've often had many trucks and vehicles slipping as they try to climb the hill because they just don't have anything to grip onto,” stated Mike.  

“That's aside from any kind of potholes or the edges of the road deteriorated, not having enough pebbles on the road, just turns it into a skating rink.”

The current solution to remedying the effect of deteriorated and deteriorating roads is to reduce the speed limit to 60 km/h, this is compounding the issue for truck drivers, as heavy vehicles momentum is part of their ability to get up the steep hills. 

“Now we're slowing them right down and really taxing the engines a lot more,” explained Mike.  

It costs PTS significant amounts of money in vehicle repairs because vehicles have been damaged from the poor road conditions, as well as by slipping when going up 
Foster Hill.

“While we're advocates for safety, and we believe in everybody being safe, we just don't believe that reducing the speed limits is either a long term or effective solution.”

A number of the truck drivers have noted that the signs are on posts and are not temporary, indicating that speed reductions do not appear to be a temporary solution.

PST have made a number of reports to VicRoads who have assessed the road and agree there's a problem, but to the frustration of PST and their drivers, no plans are in place to address the issues. 

PST have also taken the issue to Danny O’Brien, The Nationals State Member for Gippsland South and the Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety. 

“I first raised this stretch of road with the Minister more than six months ago in response to complaints from truckies because the road surface is so worn, it is described as polished, and on the way trucks are having trouble maintaining traction, which is a recipe for disaster,” said Mr O’Brien. 

“Sadly, the government has done nothing about resealing this section. No doubt after 45 per cent cuts to road maintenance funding since 2020, this is just one example of the appalling state of our roads, which is not only an inconvenience, but very costly for businesses, motorists and a very real road safety hazard.”

Mike commented that its not just Foster Hill that is giving the company headaches, it’s everywhere, and plans need to be in place so they can have some reassurance that these essential freight routes will eventually improve. 

“There's so many different places where the roads are not adequate for transportation, as well as public transport. There's tons of issues across all of rural Victoria, not just in South Gippsland,” said Mike.  

“It also creates a really dangerous situation for everybody on the road. Because there doesn't seem to be a resolution to it.”

Mr O’Brien commented that the Minister said work would be undertaken on the South Gippsland Highway, but this is yet to eventuate. 

“At the same time, there are now multiple, reduced speed limits due to the poor state of the road. She needs to stop spending money on speed signs and spend it on actually getting the roads fixed.”