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Cyclone Debbie: Yeppen Floodplain traffic plan in force

Traffic changes around Rockhampton in the wake of closure of sections of Bruce Highway and Capricorn Highway

 

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and Queensland Police Service (QPS) are working with the regional council to mitigate impact on heavy vehicles in Gracemere and Rockhampton while the traffic management changes are in place, the Flood Recovery Road Access Group (FRRAG) states.

The Yeppen Floodplain traffic transition plan was enacted yesterday in the wake of closure of the low level sections on the Bruce Highway and the Capricorn Highway.

All vehicles, including heavy vehicles up to B-double configuration were diverted to Gavial-Gracemere Road through Gracemere, FRRAG confirmed.

Vehicles accessing Rockhampton and travelling further north from the Capricorn Highway are using Gavial-Gracemere Road, Burnett Highway and the high level Yeppen Floodplain bridges, on the other hand, vehicles travelling south from the Capricorn Highway are continuing along Gavial-Gracemere Road.

Across the Yeppen North bridge on the Bruce Highway, northbound vehicles will detour via Upper Dawson Road at Jellicoe Street, with heavy vehicles directed onwards to Derby Street and back onto Bruce Highway (George Street).

“All Capricorn Highway west bound traffic will travel south via Derby Street and Upper Dawson Road to detour around low-level flooding on Gladstone Road and Lower Dawson Road, then re-join the highway at Yeppen North bridge, and travel south to the Burnett Highway, then onto Gavial-Gracemere Road and back onto the Capricorn Highway,” a FRRAG statement notes.

Reduced speed limit of 40km/h is in force on the detour route from Capricorn Highway to the Bruce Highway and people are advised to be aware of increased traffic flows during these temporary changes.

State roads and ports minister Mark Bailey has conducted aerial inspections of the damage in the Mackay and Whitsunday region.

“Transport and Main Roads is doing its best to reopen affected roads as soon as possible but some roads will take time to repair and I thank the community for their patience while we carry out this important work,” Bailey says.

The minister has also expressed satisfaction at the re-opening of the Port of Mackay over the weekend, with the first fuel vessel after the cyclone arriving at the harbour on Sunday.

Earlier, Queensland’s state development minister Anthony Lynham said re-establishing essential services, including road, rail and port routes in Mackay and across central Queensland is on top of the government’s priority list.

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