Albion residents fear children are at risk from semi-trailers and rubbish-laden trucks ignoring “no truck” signs and six-tonne load limits on quiet residential streets.
As Regional Rail Link works continued in the area, Anderson Road was closed because of level-crossing work near King Edward Avenue.
Two Anderson Road lanes have since been reopened, their traffic now travelling under the railway line.
Albion Residents Action Group spokesman Frank Reinthaler said RRL had put in “insufficient measures” to direct traffic away from Adelaide and Sydney streets and had ignored the safety concerns of residents.
Mr Reinthaler said he had seen a taxi veer into the shared parking and bike lane on Adelaide Street to avoid a cement truck while a family attempted to cross the street (pictured).
Another resident, David Timbs, said trucks carrying concrete, bitumen and rubble were operating as early as 7.30am and at 3.25pm, when “school kids were everywhere” and despite RRL signage.
He also noticed two semi-trailers drive down Adelaide Street between 11pm and midnight. “They [the signs] might as well be second- hand entertainment features from Luna Park,” he said.
“We have dozens and dozens of heavy trucks every day coming down our streets. We also have thousands of extra cars coming through. It’s illegal for trucks weighing more than six tonnes to travel on our streets, but this is not being policed.”
Mr Timbs called for council officers or the police to enforce the law and described signs put up by RRL as a “PR con job”.
In an email seen by Star Weekly, a Regional Rail Link spokeswoman apologised for the situation and said it had been “active in trying to deter our contracted truck drivers from using Adelaide Street and other local streets” and had installed traffic controllers.
RRL said suppliers and plant transport companies were told not to use Adelaide Street and faced disciplinary action for ignoring instructions.
