A truck parking bay on the Bells Line of Road near Bilpin will reopen next month to support heavy vehicle drivers managing fatigue as freight traffic continues increasing through the Hawkesbury following the closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass.
Transport for NSW announced the eastbound parking bay, located about seven kilometres east of Bilpin, will reopen in June after previously being suddenly closed by Hawkesbury Council due to concerns over illegal dumping and antisocial behaviour.
The reopening follows ongoing calls from the freight industry for additional rest areas along the Bells Line of Road corridor as heavy vehicle numbers continue to rise due to detours around the closed section of the Great Western Highway.
Transport for NSW Executive Director Damien Pfeiffer said the closure of Victoria Pass had significantly increased pressure on alternative freight routes through the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury.
“The closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass has resulted in increased use of the Darling Causeway and Bells Line of Road, placing greater emphasis on the need for accessible rest opportunities along this corridor,” Mr Pfeiffer said.
“We’ve listened to the freight industry and reopening the Bilpin truck parking bay will provide critical support for drivers navigating longer journeys on this temporary detour.”
Mr Pfeiffer said the additional rest area would help drivers comply with mandatory fatigue management requirements under heavy vehicle laws.
“It will support heavy vehicle drivers to meet their regulated fatigue management obligations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, improving safety for all road users and reducing the risk of fatigue-related incidents,” he said.
Transport for NSW has provided $45,000 to Hawkesbury City Council to support reopening works, including vegetation clearing, waste management, safety upgrades and surface improvements.
Hawkesbury Council issued a media release welcoming the funding and the re-opening of the truck stop.
The rest area is expected to reopen in June, weather permitting.
The Bilpin truck parking bay will be restricted to heavy vehicles only and will accommodate up to four trucks at a time.
While rubbish bins will be provided onsite, the facility will not initially include toilets or seating.
Further upgrades are planned through the Australian Government’s Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program.
The reopening is likely to be welcomed by truck drivers and freight operators who have increasingly relied on the Bells Line of Road as a key freight route during the prolonged Victoria Pass closure.
The issue has also highlighted broader concerns about the limited number of safe heavy vehicle rest areas available across the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains road network, particularly as freight volumes continue growing across Western Sydney.
Road safety advocates have long argued that adequate rest areas are essential in reducing fatigue-related crashes, particularly for drivers operating long-haul freight routes through mountainous terrain.
Transport for NSW said motorists can access maps of available NSW heavy vehicle rest areas through the Transport for NSW website.
