City of Greater Bendigo proposes heavy vehicle curfew trial

The City of Greater Bendigo is seeking community feedback on a proposed trial for heavy vehicle curfews in Epsom. The proposed restrictions would prevent vehicles with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 8 tonnes from using a section of Howard Street, between the Midland Highway and Goynes Road, during specific weekday peak periods.

The trial would restrict access from 8:00 am to 9:30 am and 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. This proposal follows safety concerns raised by residents regarding heavy vehicle movements during high-traffic school and commuter hours.

Local stakeholders, including livestock operators, have expressed concerns that the curfew could impact operations by increasing travel time and costs for those accessing the Bendigo Livestock Exchange. The council intends to gather broad community input before deciding whether to proceed with the trial.