Strong lobbying by the Barossa Council to the state government for the past 10 years has recently resulted in a signage plan to place heavy vehicle restrictions on these roads.

According to the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI), this signage is yet to be finalised, but is expected to be similar to that recently installed around Angaston.

A spokesperson for the department said they are working with council to determine appropriate locations and nature of the restrictions to ensure safe movement of heavy vehicles around Nuriootpa and Tanunda.

“The timing of the signage will be subject to the completion of this work,” the spokesperson said.

The council’s acting chief executive officer Ian Baldwin said, “Until such time as these restrictions have been approved and implemented there is not much that can be done to prevent this type of movement through the townships”.

However, Mr Baldwin said DPTI has been requested to attend to this issue as a matter of urgency and council will continue to liaise with them.

The general access trucks and semi trailers, which are not banned from using the busy stretches such as Murray Streets at Tanunda and Nuriootpa, are criticised for their noise, speed and for their general nuisance to traders who rely on patrons.

Continued concerns have been raised by main street traders who in the past have highlighted they struggle to offer comfortable outdoor dining experiences for their customers because of noise.

DPTI said the South Australian Police or departmental traffic inspectors could enforce the restrictions if required.

It is understood the restrictions installed in Angaston are generally being observed by heavy vehicle operators.

In 2011 council announced they were keen to see restrictions of these heavy vehicles along Murray Street, Nuriootpa, from New Road, near BP, to the Sturt Highway and Tanunda’s main street, from Gomersal Road to Barossa Valley Way near Kroemer Crossing.

The Barossa freight route, installed in the mid 2000s, restricts b-doubles from entering main streets.