All vehicles, including Type 2 road trains, can now cross Angellala Creek.
A section of the Mitchell Highway in Queensland closed after a truck explosion last month has reopened to all traffic ahead of schedule.
Road crews have finished repair weeks three weeks earlier than expected on the road south of Charleville, meaning all vehicles – including Type 2 road trains – can now cross Angellala Creek.
Crews built a sealed side track to restore access for the trucking industry and surrounding communities.
“Traffic controls will be in place temporarily on the side track with initial speed restrictions of 40km/h,” Queensland roads minister Scott Emerson says.
“Last week we were able to give motorists, grey nomads, school buses and small trucks access to our construction side track, which really helped remove congestion from the detour routes. Now our vital heavy vehicle industry can use the new side track reducing delays.”
The Department of Transport and Main Roads took possession of the affected site on September 13 and initially thought it would take six weeks to build the side track.
“Our work is not quite done yet as we continue with the important task of replacing the Angellala Creek Bridge,” Emerson says.
A truck carrying ammonium nitrate along the Mitchell Highway near Wyandra exploded on September 6, injuring eight people and causing severe damage to the surrounding area.