Load limits are applied to roads and bridges to protect road pavement and bridge structures to ensure safety and reliability for road users. These load limits help to minimise the damage that can be caused by overloaded or heavy vehicles.
In some instances, damage from heavy vehicles may cause a complete closure of a road or bridge while repairs or replacement is completed.
We impose suitable load limits to control the risk of overloaded bridge structures from heavy vehicles to preserve roads and bridges, ensure safety for road users, and maintain access for road users.
Road and bridge load limits in the Port Macquarie-Hastings
We manage 120 bridges within the Port Macquarie-Hastings Local Government Area (LGA) - 64 of which are ageing timber bridges. With regular maintenance and repair, the expected life of a timber bridge is typically 50 years. Learn more about our Bridge Maintenance Program.
Timber bridge inspections and new load limits
In September 2019, we undertook a detailed inspection and structural assessment of the majority of our 64 timber bridges. This project was supported by funding assistance from the NSW Government.
As a result of our inspections, we identified a number of bridges that are considered to be under capacity for the current heavy vehicle use, and are subsequently at risk of failure from a safety and reliability perspective.
We have revised the access conditions for a number of bridges in the Local Government Area including load limits. Information relating to the load limit status for the respective bridges is in the table below. You can also view an Interactive Map of Bridge and Load Limits.
Current road and bridge load limits in the Port Macquarie-Hastings
| Region |
Road or Bridge |
Location |
Load Limit or Capacity
status as at 28 September 2020 |
| Bellangry |
Bridge |
Crowe Roods Bridge, Bellangry Road^
|
One lane traffic only |
| Byabarra |
Bridge |
Thone River Road Bridge^ |
15 tonne |
| Kindee |
Bridge |
Kindee Road Bridge |
10 tonne
10 tonne
|
| Logans Crossing |
Bridge |
Logans Crossing Road Bridge^ |
5 tonne |
| Lorne |
Bridge |
Tipperary Bridge, Tipperary Road^ |
No load limit
|
| Mortons Creek |
Bridge |
Little Mortons Creek Road Bridge^ |
Single Axle 9 tonne
Tandem Axle 12 tonne
Tri-Axle 14 tonne
|
| Pembrooke |
Bridge |
Rowsells Road Railway Bridge* |
Rigid 7 tonne
Articulated 10 tonne
|
| Pembrooke |
Bridge |
Pembrooke Village Road Railway Bridge* |
10.5 tonne |
| Port Macquarie |
Road |
Clifton Drive |
5 tonne |
| Rollands Plains |
Bridge |
Bril Bril Road Bridge (Bottlebrush No 1)^ |
Single Axle 9 tonne
Tandem Axle 14 tonne
Tri-Axle 17 tonne
Speed limited to 10 kph
|
| Rollands Plains |
Bridge |
Bril Bril Bridge, Upper Rollands Plains Road^
|
Single Axle 9 tonne
Tandem Axle 13 tonne
Tri-Axle 15 tonne
Speed limited to 10 kph
Heavy vehicle bypass in operation
|
| Rollands Plains |
Bridge |
Thompsons Bridge, Upper Rollands Plains Road^
|
No load limit |
| Telegraph Point |
Bridge |
Farrawells Road Railway Bridge* |
Single Axle 3 tonne
Tandem Axle 6 tonne
Tri-Axle 7.5 tonne
|
| Telegraph Point |
Bridge |
Old Butter Factory Road Railway Bridge* |
Rigid 11 tonne
Articulated 20 tonne
|
| Telegraph Point |
Bridge |
Wilmaria Road Rail Bridge* |
Rigid 10 tonne
Articulated 19 tonne
|
| Thrumster |
Bridge |
Fernbank Creek Road Bridge^ |
5 tonne |
| Wauchope |
Bridge |
Guy Street Railway Bridge* |
Single Axle 5 tonne
Tandem Axle 12 tonne
Tri-Axle 15 tonne
|
| Wauchope |
Bridge |
Redbank Road Railway Bridge* |
Single Axle 9 tonne
Tandem Axle 11.5 tonne
Tri-Axle 13.5 tonne
|
| Wauchope |
Bridge |
Weismantle Street Railway Bridge* |
Rigid 20 tonne
Articulated 33 tonne
|
^ Load limits or capacity as at 10 February 2021.
* This bridge is owned by Transport for NSW and maintained by John Holland Rail. For more information contact 1300 661 390 or email crn.enquiry@jhg.com.au.
Roads and bridges remediated and load limits removed - No current restrictions
| Region |
Road or Bridge |
Location |
Load Limit or Capacity
status as at 28 September 2020 |
| Bellangry |
Bridge |
The Cedars Road Bridge
|
Bridge repairs completed May 2020 |
| Boorganna |
Bridge |
Donkins Flat Bridge, Wingham Road |
Temporary prop installed May 2020 |
| Herons Creek |
Bridge |
Old School Road Bridge
|
Temporary prop installed May 2020 |
| Redbank |
Bridge |
Stoney Creek Road Bridge |
Temporary prop installed April 2020 |
| Rollands Plains |
Bridge |
Foxs Road Bridge^
|
Bridge repairs completed August 2020 |
| Rollands Plains |
Bridge |
Myhills Bridge, Upper Rollands Plains Road
|
Bridge repairs completed June 2020 |
| Scotts Plains |
Bridge |
Scotts Plains Road Bridge
|
Bridge repairs completed June 2020 |
^ Load limits or capacity revised as at 28 September 2020.
* This bridge is owned by Transport for NSW and maintained by John Holland Rail. For more information contact 1300 661 390 or email crn.enquiry@jhg.com.au.
4
What do load limits mean for me?
Most vehicles are General Access Vehicles - vehicles with unrestricted access to the road network, except where sign posted otherwise, i.e. with Load Limit signs. Load limit signage will refer to either Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) or axle group mass based on single, tandem or tri-axle.
If your vehicle weighs more than the signposted load limit, either Tare Weight (unladen vehicle weight) or Gross Weight (loaded weight) you must not drive past the sign, in accordance with the Road Rules 2014 - Rule 103.
Understanding vehicle mass and dimension limits
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is the maximum loaded mass of a vehicle which is specified by the vehicle manufacturer and this information is usually displayed on the compliance or identification plate of a vehicle.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is Australia’s independent authority for heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes GVM. The NHVR website provides further detail on general mass and dimensional limits for all types of heavy vehicles, including information relating to Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), Gross Combination Mass (GCM), Tare Weight, and vehicle axle groups.
What do I need to do when I see certain road or bridge load limits?
If your vehicle or a vehicle that accesses your property weighs more than the signposted load limit, you must not drive past this sign. Where possible, you must take an alternative route which allows for the weight of the vehicle.
Where you have heavy vehicles accessing your property by a third party, please ensure the operators are aware of the load limits. If this situation applies to you, contact us as soon as possible to discuss your particular situation, and we will work with you to assess the options available.
If you are unsure whether your vehicle and load complies with the required load limits for any roads or bridges, please contact the vehicle manufacturer or other relevant authority.
How long do load limits remain in place?
The load limits apply to roads and bridges until further notice. In many instances, where possible, we will schedule structural repairs and include these works in our bridge maintenance program. This program will be dependent on a range of factors including risk management, the nature of the project, scale of the maintenance or repairs, budgets and operational capacity.
Mid North Weight of Loads Group and vehicle checks
The Mid North Weight of Loads Group works in co-operation with the New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) to protect and prolong the life of our roads by reducing the incidence of overloaded vehicles. Mid North Weight of Loads Inspectors patrol State, Regional and Local Roads conducting random mass checks on heavy vehicles to ensure they comply with legislated mass limits.
In addition to issuing breaches for overloading, the group focuses on educating truck operators and businesses in making sure their loads are legal and not causing damage to roads. Truck weighing is offered on request and the group can be contacted for advice on proper loading.
Further information regarding fines, weighing procedures and weight limits can be found on the Mid North Coast of Loads Group website.
This page was last updated on: 31 March 2021