Those Regs
Page 3
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THE HEAVY LORRY Regulations, detailing the Government's proposals for 38-tonners and sideguards, were published on Friday last week, and contain few surprises.
The impact requirement for sideguards has been reduced to one fifth of that once specified by the Department of Transport, and there is provision in the Regulations for operating tri-axle tractive units with tandem-axle trailers.
Full details of the Regulations, and some possible implications, are on pages 16 and 17.
The necessary identical amendments to Construction and Use Regulations have also been announced for Northern Ireland, with the Province's Environment Minister, David Mitchell, following Transport Secretary David Howell with a suitably worded announcement on Thursday last week.
He said: "The success of the Northern Ireland economy depends on inexpensive road transport able to operate competitively in the Province, Great Britain, the Republic, and particularly in the European Community.
"It makes no sense to run juggernaut lorries which are not fully loaded."
Again echoing the Howell emphasis on the road programme and by-passes, Mr Mitchell promised: "The work at present in progress on the Westlink and M2 extension schemes in Belfast and the construction of the new Foyle Bridge will take some heavy lorry traffic out of inner shopping and business areas in Belfast and Londonderry."
He went on to say: "Schemes are being prepared for portions of proposed by-passes at Dunmurray and Antrim and for further sections of throughpasses in Enniskillen, Lisburn and Newry. Other by-passes are at a design stage, such as that for Strabane."