Transport department warns of long-term closures on many roads
Fixing the roads that have been damaged as a result of Cyclone Debbie is the priority of the Queensland government, state main roads and road safety minister Mark Bailey says.
The minister says the ongoing repair work is a “huge” task that needs to finish soon to get the transport system up and running again after severe storm and flooding caused damage in Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Bailey says the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is ensuring that all affected areas have restoration plans in place.
“I’m extremely impressed with the speed which TMR Roadtek crews worked to implement an interim solution on Pine Creek Road which meant Springbrook locals had access only 36 hours after it was damaged,” he says.
“We’re working as hard as we can to restore our roads and I thank the community for their patience but some of the damage is so severe that a quick-fix solution like Pine Creek Road is just not possible.”
TMR warns of long-term closures of the following roads due to “significant infrastructure damage from landslips, large boulders and water inundation”:
- Gold Coast–Springbrook Road between Neranwood and Springbrook from Little Nerang Dam to Pine Creek Road
- Nerang–Murwillumbah Road between Pine Creek Road and the NSW border (local traffic only past Pine Creek Road)
- Binna Burra Road from bottom of the car park to Binna Burra Lodge (local traffic access only)
- Lamington National Park Road from Canungra to Sarabah Road (local traffic access only)
- Lamington National Park Road from Sarabah Road to O’Reilly’s is open via a side-track to emergency vehicles only.
The John Muntz Causeway, which was washed away in the flood, is expected to be completed by mid-year.
“We recognise the significance Tamborine-Oxenford Road and the John Muntz Causeway has for the local community,” Bailey says after having inspected some of the damaged roads including Pine Creek Road in the Gold Coast hinterland.
“The width of the Coomera River and the volume of water in the river means repairs similar to those at Pine Creek are not suitable for this location but work is being done as quickly as possible.
“Before rectification of the road deck and abutment can begin, APA Gas must first reconnect a primary gas main that services the Gold Coast.
“These works, along with Energex maintenance of power utilities, have already begun in earnest and are expected to be completed by mid-May 2017 (weather and construction conditions permitting).
“We’ve already engaged external designers and TMR engineers are carrying out structural and underwater investigations at the location, along with the removal of a significant amount of debris which has to removed from under the water level before reinstatement can begin.”
For further details regarding road detours, visit the TMR website.