The well-known, and very nsteep section of the Hume Highway near Kyeamba Gap, frequently referred to by truck drivers as Aeroplane or Aeroplane Hill is about to get a significant amount of money spent on it to construct a major $2.4 million upgrade to the truck rest area on the famous hill top.
Transport for NSW announced the upgrade last week and says the work will give truck drivers travelling on one of the state’s busiest freight routes better and safer journeys.
The $2.4 million upgrade to the Kyeamba Gap East Rest Area on the Hume Highway southbound, is set to start next week, 16th March Sith funding from both the Australian and NSW government enabling the improved rest area for heavy vehicles between Tarcutta and Holbrook.
According to Cassandra French,Transport for NSW’s executive director for partnerships and integration said that the upgraded rest stop, which currently only offers litter bins, will soon boast a new toilet block , disability access, picnic facilities, lighting and two heavy vehicle parking lanes.
“Work will also include drainage upgrades, signage, line marking and safety barriers,” said French.
“Roads are a heavy vehicle driver’s workplace, and rest areas are important facilities that support drivers’ health, safety and wellbeing, and enable compliance with mandatory fatigue management breaks,” she said.
Transport for NSW said that work will be carried out on weekdays from 7am to 5pm and from 7am to 1pm on Saturdays starting next Monday 16hth March with the work expected to be completed by Friday 29 May 29, weather permitting.
It says that the southbound rest area will be closed to all traffic for the project’s duration, while traffic control, intermittent lane closures and reduced speeds will be in place on the highway when work is close to traffic lanes.
It said that motorists are advised that the next available southbound rest areas are at Little Billabong, 12 kilometres south, and Keajura, 22 kilometres north of the Kyeamba area, while it assures us that access to local properties will be maintained.
Transport for NSW says it is working with the road freight industry to improve the quantity and quality of heavy vehicle rest stops and support driver wellbeing and safety.
it claims that in the past two years, it has delivered upgrades to a number of rest areas, including Seven Trees and Curlwaa rest areas on the Silver City Highway, Berry Jerry Rest Area on the Sturt Highway, Bundjalung Rest Area on the Pacific Highway, Kyeamba Gap Rest Area northbound, Mundoonan northbound, Menangle Truck Parking Bay on the Hume Highway, as well as Beckom, Bundure, and the Marsden (northbound and southbound) rest areas on the Newell Highways
