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Flood-affected roads re-open to trucks

Access and weight restrictions lifted for trucks using roads ravaged by floods in Queensland

March 11, 2010

Sections of Queensland’s flood ravaged road network are beginning to re-open as the wet weather recedes and heavy vehicle weight restrictions are lifted

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has re-opened the Warrego Highway from Roma to Morven and lifted the five-tonne load limit on heavy vehicles imposed for safety reasons.

Access for heavy vehicles on the highway from Miles to Charleville has also been restored, but drivers are being told to be cautious.

The routes were originally cut off due to heavy floodwaters from inclement weather last week.

The load limit on trucks has also been lifted on the section of the highway.

The announcement follows the re-opening of the Warrego highway from Roma to Miles yesterday.

“The department of Transport and Main Roads thanks industry for their patience during this time as we continue get south-west Queensland moving again,” a Transport and Main Roads statement says.

Despite the drop in bad weather, heavy vehicles are still being hit hard in a number of regions.

The Mitchell Highway from Charleville to Cunnamulla is only open for four-wheel drives and high clearance vehicles, while the section from Cunnamulla to Barringnun is now closed due to flooding.

Main Roads says truck drivers carrying more than five tonnes from the south-east corner of Queensland through to Barcaldine, Mount Isa and the Central Highlands should use alternative routes outside south west Queensland.

“There is currently flooding on the Carnarvon Highway at Deep Channel south or Rolleston and a restriction on the Warrego Highway west of Roma,” the department’s statement reads.

Heavy rain last week cut off routes and damaged the road network, forcing closures and declarations of disaster zones in some areas.

Extra crews were brought in to repair the damage as the department works to restore full access.

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