WITH B-double, double-decker and other cattle trucks on the road for up to a week during the Mountain Cattle Sales, it is business as usual for Victoria Police road traffic patrol officers.
There is also a bicycle race (the Peak Challenge), motorbike riders who enjoy skimming the bends of the Great Alpine road and other, regular, traffic, along with extra livestock buyers and farmers and graziers all travelling.
Sergeant Dwayne Morrison is a veteran of the Mountain Calf Sales, as are most of the police officers and other officials on duty that week.
"The truck drivers are pretty switched on and organised," Sgt Morrison said.
"On the Monday [March 9] and Thursday [March 12] we're going to see most of the truck movement; up to nine B-doubles from Mitta Mitta direction and a lot of other cattle trucks coming up both sides of the mountain, along the Great Alpine Road.
"People need to stay aware that there will be a lot of trucks on the road and don't try to do something stupid, like overtake where it's not safe.
"I am concerned about the bicycle ride - there will be 2000 riders participating - and drivers need to remember it is legal to ride two abreast.
"On that terrain, the riders are working hard to get up and down the roads and overtake each other, so there will be times when there are more than two riders abreast on the road.
"We'll be trying to reduce problems as much as possible with our police presence, but we can't be everywhere."
The Great Alpine Road will be closed from Harrietville to Mount Hotham from 8am to midday on Sunday, March 8, to accommodate the bulk of the cyclists participating in the Peak Challenge.
They ride from Falls Creek to Harrietville to Mount Hotham, then through Omeo and Anglers Rest to Bogong High Plains and returning to Falls Creek.
"The name of the game is everyone getting home safely," Sgt Morrison said.
"Thursday will probably be the day when most truck movement occurs.
"Truck drivers need to stick to the route their permit allows them on.
"The truck drivers know if they should use the Mitta Mitta or the Great Alpine roads to transport cattle."
He also reminded truck drivers to ensure cattle effluent is not able to run out of the truck, which is a traffic offence as well as a hazard on the road, given that 10,000 cattle will be sold during the week.
A VicRoads spokesperson said the organisation had reviewed bridge safety recently and would ensure any roadwork crews along the routes were aware of the extra traffic from this weekend to next.
"We'll be focused on minimising impacts of our work," the spokesperson said.
"Truck drivers are reminded to be aware of their health and safety requirements and ensure animal welfare standards and load limits are maintained.
"And remember to use the bungs in your trucks. That's a lot of extra effluent that could create a real road traffic issue during the week."
