The timber industry is moving towards increased use of higher productivity heavy vehicle configurations, such as B-doubles and quad dogs. Haulage contractors are increasingly requesting forest organisations to designate roads that are suitable for use by these heavy vehicle configurations. Technical information on which to answer these requests is generally limited. The Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) commissioned ARRB Group Ltd. to provide guidelines on how best DSE should go about determining swept path widths on tight bends and at intersections, and the capability of pavements to accept various heavy vehicle configurations. ARRB has prepared a manual providing practical guidelines for use by DSE staff in the better management of road operations for the logging industry and other road users. The manual gives objective criteria to match vehicle types to specific road types. Included are intersection requirements, matching road geometry to road classifications, sight distance requirements, signage and delineation and pavement thickness design. This paper highlights the key aspects of the guidelines and should be of interest to other road agencies involved with logging operations, including councils, haulage contractors and forest owners. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. 0612AR242E.
Samenvatting