The Hume Highway connects Melbourne and Sydney and is one of Australia’s busiest road freight corridors. Estimates of annual freight tonnages for the Gundagai section of the highway range from 10 to 12 million tonnes per annum in each direction. This is expected to substantially increase, reaching over 15 million tonnes in each direction by 2040.
The Hume Highway plays an important role in accommodating freight volume growth, supporting freight efficiency and lowering transport costs by improving access for High Productivity Vehicles (HPVs) between Sydney and Melbourne. However, the strength limitations on the northbound Sheahan Bridge at Gundagai constrain the highway as an HPV route. Currently, HPVs up to 85 tonnes are permitted to travel to the NSW border from Victoria but are not permitted to travel on the NSW section of the Hume Highway due to the Sheahan Bridge structure limitations. These limitations on the northbound bridge also restrict opportunities for contraflow during emergency response or planned maintenance activities on the southbound bridge.
Strategic Fit
Improved freight routes for HPVs are consistent with the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy as well as state and national infrastructure strategies for higher productivity of freight movements. The proposal also aligns with the 2019 Australian Infrastructure Audit where upgrading the bridge will remove a key barrier for HPVs to support Australia’s fast-growing cities by enabling a more efficient and capable HPV network.
Societal Impact
More efficient freight routes minimise freight journeys and lessen the impact of these movements on communities. By utilising HPVs, there is a reduction in total kilometres travelled and, as a result, a reduction in accidents and environmental costs associated with fuel use and emissions.
Deliverability
Potential investment options to address the constraint of weight limitations on the northbound section of the Sheahan Bridge include upgrading or replacing the bridge, as well as considering alternative routes.
The project has received $16 million from the Australian Government and $4 million from the NSW Government to develop a Final Business Case (Stage 3 of Infrastructure Australia's Assessment Framework). This is expected to be submitted to Infrastructure Australia once complete.
The proponent is currently progressing planning that will inform a Strategic Business Case to better understand the problems and opportunities of freight operations along the Hume Highway corridor.