I’ve heard the radio spots but not seen the TVC. Interesting that it is a Federal Government ad and not from the state road transport authority like RMS in NSW you would commonly see the ads reused in other states but it would contain the state specific branding ie RMS in NSW, Transport and Main Roads in Queensland, TAC in Victoria etc. Historically Victoria had had some excellent road safety ads some should have been used nation wide like the Pictures of You ad from the TAC from 15 years ago, very moving even to this day.
Car manufacturers Nissan and Honda have signed a joint agreement to explore a merger that would make them the third-largest automakers in the industry.
The deal is estimated to be worth about $79.9 billion and is expected to be finalised by 2026.
Meanwhile, the West Gate Bridge currently has its annual maintenance works underway in Melbourne, closing multiple lanes and causing 30-45min delays back to the Western Ring Road junction in Laverton North. These roadworks have occured for some years now over the festive period (lowest traffic volumes of the year) along with many warnings, so drivers should be aware and used to it by now.
And in Perth, the newly completed Mitchell Freeway south will close for 48 hours from this Saturday evening, also testing out the new Smart Freeway and freeway shutdown procedures. It’ll make Sunday driving interesting. There’s been warnings from recent days.
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Also, in Queensland, the latest Smart Motorway project completed some months back along the Bruce Highway, now extending up to the Sunshine Coast. There is now technology including ramp metering and variable speed limits from the Sunshine Motorway to Burpengary (where the previous first Smart Motorway in Queensland opened from Pine River). The overall projects which were in stages also included upgrades to lanes, bitchumen, interchanges and landscaping. Making the stretch from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane, at least southbound, flow more smoother, be better monitored, controlled and drivers to be advised of conditions. It had a net cost of close to $1b and first commenced around a decade ago.
From today, drivers will have to pay new US$9 tolls from 5 am to 9 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 9 pm on weekends. Drivers will pay US$2.25 outside of peak hours.
Today marks 50 years since the Tasman Bridge in Hobart was struck by a cargo ship, resulting in the collapse of 127 meters of the bridge into the River Derwent and the loss of 12 lives.
It took just over two years to rebuild that section of the bridge while making some modifications.
Just a few years after the West Gate Bridge collapse too
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For the second night in a row, a shrub fire has broken out and shut down a freeway in Melbourne.
This one inbound on the Calder Fwy near the McNamara Ave interchange in Airport West. There was a report on Seven News and some social footage, again the flames were huge, a small but intense inferno. 6 FRV trucks are on scene and it’s now listed as under control.
Nearby Fullerton Rd was also closed, as was the outbound carriageway of the freeway. Citybound drivers were sent onto McNamara Ave/Fullarton Rd where they could get to CityLink or DFO and Bulla Rd via Keilor Rd, while Bendigo bound motorists were kept on the Tullamarine Fwy towards the airports.
Unknown if suspicious, but I don’t believe in coincidences, freakish! There was also a seperate bushfire in the same suburb near the Westfield Shoppingtown.
It’s long overdue for the Bruce. Would be good to see some detail on what’s included. It’s all been a bit vague to date “safety improvements”. No talk of capacity or duplication.
Also pretty cynical of Albanese and King who have repeatedly refused to fund 80% and now flip a couple of months from the election.
Diesel vehicle sales tallied 369,842 (-2.5 per cent YoY) for the 2024 calendar year, while petrol vehicle sales totalled 528,978 (-10.1 per cent).
Hybrid vehicle sales rose to 172,696 (+76.0 per cent), while battery electric vehicle sales finished the year with 74,612 unit sales (-14.5 per cent), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles 23,163 (+100.2 per cent).
For the calendar year 2024, Toyota was the biggest selling brand with sales of 241,296 and 19.8 per cent market share followed by Ford (100,170 and 8.2 per cent), Mazda (95,987 and 7.9 per cent), Kia (81,787 and 6.7 per cent), and Mitsubishi (74,587 and 6.1 per cent).
The prime minister said he had spoken with the state’s Liberal National party premier, David Crisafulli, about the policy on Sunday night, and both were keen to start construction as soon as possible.
He said the priority area was the road north of Gympie, a notorious black spot. The money will also fund upgrades between Maryborough and Benaraby, Rockhampton and St Lawrence, Bowen and Townsville, and Ingham and Innisfail.
Interesting. Hopefully the priority area north of Gympie they’re talking about is from Curra to Tiaro, and not just the Tiaro bypass which is due to start construction this year anyway.
With the Gympie bypass now complete, where that ends at Curra you go from a top quality 4 lane motorway at 110 kmh to a really substandard piece of two lane goat track with narrow bridges and a huge service centre on one side with crossing traffic. They’ve dropped the speed to 80 kmh where the motorway ends because of how crap that stretch is.
The whole section from Curra to Maryborough could be considered a black spot and high traffic volumes mean 4 laning that stretch is needed urgently.
Further north from Maryborough it’s all about safety upgrades, centre median dividers and shoulder widening, and overtaking lanes. And to be honest I doubt 7 billion is anywhere near enough, but it’s a start.
