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Cover of Network Signage for Over Height Vehicles Approaching Road Tunnels
Network Signage for Over Height Vehicles Approaching Road Tunnels
  • Publication no: AP-T360-21
  • ISBN: 978-1-922700-59-9
  • Published: 16 September 2022
  • Edition: 1.2

This report, originally published in November 2021, outlines the findings of a project to develop clearer and more consistent tunnel signage to reduce the impact of over-dimensioned and dangerous goods vehicles on both infrastructure and Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) outcomes.

The report includes recommended signage and guidelines for the placement of signage on the roadway preceding a tunnel and along diversion routes. This guidance has been prepared as an update to the Austroads Guide to Road Tunnels Part 2: Planning, Design and Commissioning.

Edition 1.1 of the report was published in March 2022. This edition corrected the lengths of seven tunnels listed in Table A1.

Edition 1.2 was published in September 2022. This edition removed the design clearance measure for Sydney Harbour Tunnel in Table A1.

Watch a webinar with Bob Allen, and report authors Marcus van der Velden, Lindsay Edmonds and Charmaine Joe.

On 16 September 2022 a corrected edition (1.2) was published. This edition removes the design clearance measure for Sydney Harbour Tunnel in Table A1.

On 14 March 2022 a corrected edition (1.1) of the report was published. This edition corrected the lengths of seven tunnels listed in Table A1.

  • Summary
    • Key Findings
    • Recommendations
  • 1. Overview
    • 1.1 Intended Audience
    • 1.2 Scope
    • 1.3 Project Context
      • 1.3.1 Purpose of this Report
      • 1.3.2 Methodology
    • 1.4 Abbreviations List
  • 2. Methodology
    • 2.1 Phase 1: Inception, Planning and Workshop
      • 2.1.1 Establishment of the Project Working Group
      • 2.1.2 Internal Stakeholder Consultation
      • 2.1.3 External Stakeholder Consultation
      • 2.1.4 Workshop Delivery
      • 2.1.5 Workshop Findings
    • 2.2 Phase 2: Current Signage Practice
      • 2.2.1 Literature Review of Current Signage Practice
      • 2.2.2 Network Taskforce Engagement and Stakeholder Interviews
      • 2.2.3 SWOT Analysis
      • 2.2.4 Signage Practice Report
      • 2.2.5 PWG Review
      • 2.2.6 Draft Signage Amendments
    • 2.3 Phase 3: Recommended Signage and Human Factors Integration
      • 2.3.1 Human Factors Integration
      • 2.3.2 Updating Signage Proposals
    • 2.4 Phase 4: Development of report and update to the Austroads Guide to Road Tunnels Part 2
      • 2.4.1 Development of Technical Report
      • 2.4.2 Report Reviews and Guide Development
    • 2.5 Phase 5: Publication and Webinar
      • 2.5.1 Preparation of the Presentation
      • 2.5.2 Prepare and Present during an Austroads Webinar
  • 3. Stakeholder Consultation
    • 3.1 Project Working Group Consultation
    • 3.2 External Consultation
  • 4. Literature Review
    • 4.1 Australian Standards and Variations Across Legislations
      • 4.1.1 Australia – AS 1742
      • 4.1.2 New South Wales
      • 4.1.3 Victoria
      • 4.1.4 Queensland
      • 4.1.5 Western Australia
      • 4.1.6 South Australia
      • 4.1.7 Tasmania
      • 4.1.8 Northern Territory
      • 4.1.9 Australian Capital Territory
      • 4.1.10 New Zealand
    • 4.2 National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR)
    • 4.3 Austroads
    • 4.4 Research Papers
      • 4.4.1 Driver’s Perception of Vehicle Height
      • 4.4.2 Sign Content
      • 4.4.3 Route Choice
      • 4.4.4 Lack of Consistent Records
    • 4.5 International Jurisdictions
      • 4.5.1 United Kingdom
      • 4.5.2 The Netherlands - Rijkswaterstaat
      • 4.5.3 The United States of America – Federal Highway Association
  • 5. Current Signage Practices
    • 5.1 Vehicle Height Limits across Australasia
    • 5.2 Key Findings
    • 5.3 Key Site Reviews
      • 5.3.1 Sydney Harbour Tunnel – NSW
      • 5.3.2 Airport Link – QLD
      • 5.3.3 Montague Street Bridge – VIC
      • 5.3.4 Northbridge Tunnel – WA
  • 6. Human Factors Integration
    • 6.1 Case Study Sydney Harbour Tunnel
    • 6.2 Analysis of the Case Study
    • 6.3 Human Factors Recommendations for the Guide
    • 6.4 Conclusion
  • 7. Industry Challenges
    • 7.1 Findings Review and Gap Analysis
    • 7.2 Recommendations for Specifications
      • 7.2.1 Over Height Signage Scheme
      • 7.2.2 Over Height Signage Overview
      • 7.2.3 Implementation Example of OHV signage scheme
      • 7.2.4 Quantum of Impact
  • 8. Conclusion and Recommendations
    • 8.1 Overall Outcomes
    • 8.2 Project Recommendations
      • 8.2.1 Future Considerations
  • References
  • Appendix A Road Tunnels in Australia and New Zealand
  • Appendix B Examples of Signage Used on the Approaches to Tunnels
  • Appendix C Current Signage Placement Along the Approaches to Selected Tunnels and Bridges
    • C.1 Sydney Harbour Tunnel – NSW
    • C.2 Eastern Distributor Tunnel – NSW
    • C.3 Montague Street Bridge – VIC
    • C.4 Bayswater Bridge – WA
    • C.5 Northbridge Tunnel – WA
  • Appendix D Proposed Sign Faces
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Guide to Road Tunnels Part 2: Planning, Design and Commissioning
AGRT02-21
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