The arrival of a shipping container full of gravel is being credited with enabling the early, partial, re-opening of Waterfall Way between Bellingen and Dorrigo in New South Wales.
The road has been closed four times in the past 12 months because of landslides, the last being a 250 tonne rockfall in mid-January.
In a statement released on March 19, Transport for NSW said the road will reopen to traffic operating under one-way conditions from Sunday, 22 March.
The one lane will operate on the northern side of the road under temporary traffic signals, with vehicles travelling through the slip site one direction at a time at a reduced speed of 40 km/h.
Reopening the road will restore a vital connection for the community, freight and other motorists, including the return of school bus services and reducing pressure on Summervilles Road.
NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison says workers had been working around the clock to have the road open in time for the Easter long weekend.
“I know this will be welcome news for a community that has been struggling, but I recognise that a full reopening is what the community needs and deserves. There is no silver bullet here – but I am committed to getting the job done safely,” Aitchison says.
“In the meantime, what has been achieved is extraordinary and a product of an amazing effort from Transport for NSW, Bellingen Shire Council and contractors, who have worked long hours to get this critical road safely reopened.
“I understand how tough this closure has been for local communities and freight, and I want to sincerely thank everyone for their patience.
“This reopening will restore connection between Dorrigo and Bellingen and take pressure off surrounding roads.
“However, I want to be honest with the community: this is still a live site, and access will depend on weather and ground conditions, we are doing everything we can to keep the community and freight moving safely.
“We’ll keep working to strengthen this corridor and improve its resilience for the long term.”
Bellingen Shire Council mayor Steve Allan says it “cannot be understated how important access to Waterfall Way is to our community and to freight operators who rely on it every day”.
“This was a huge team effort, and I want to thank everyone involved in getting the road reopened safely, as well as our community for their patience during a very challenging period.”
The roadworks done so far have contributed to a detailed corridor assessment of Waterfall Way between Bellingen and Dorrigo aimed at identifying improvements that can be made, both in the short and long term, to boost the resilience of the road.
The assessment is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.