Work has begun on the new $11.4 million Nhill Trailer Exchange to provide a facility on the Western Highway between Melbourne and Adelaide to improve safety and convenience for the large number of changeovers which take place in the area.
Work has begun in building new turning lanes on the Western Highway to facilitate access in and out of the new exchange area for trucks. The new facility is expected to be able to handle up to 100 trucks at a time for trailer swaps.
A VicRoad study found more than 1000 trucks passed through Nhill every day and there are around 250 truck changeovers in each 24-hour period. The current changeover area has only 23 vehicle spaces, meaning that many of the changeovers are taking place in dangerous areas at the side of the highway.
So far, only the turning lanes have begun construction. A decision to award the contract for construction of the trailer exchange itself is expected to be announced later this year.