The damage caused to the Mitchell Highway by a truck explosion earlier this month is continuing to cause chaos for grey nomads and other travellers.
The construction of a temporary detour around a section of the highway in outback Queensland near Wyandra has begun … but it could still take up to six weeks until heavy vehicles can pass through the area.
Eight people were injured when a truck carrying ammonium nitrate rolled and then exploded near a bridge between Cunumulla and Charleville on September 5. The blast, which was felt more than 30 kilometres away, decimated the Angellala Creek bridge, and caused such severe damage that that stretch of road had to be closed indefinitely.
Word of the problems has meant many travellers are now avoiding the area altogether and that’s hitting some Outback towns hard.
The ABC reports that Wyandra itself has been turned into a ‘ghost town’ during what should have been a busy time during its winter tourist season.
“Normally tourists come through going north and call back through on their way home.,” said Kim Paterson, who owns the town’s caravan park. “But if there’s some doubt as to whether they are going to be able to get through, rumour always happens, and people are just going to avoid us … it will be the end of tourist season for us.”
Currently drivers are being advised to travel along the state road network between Mitchell and St George, avoiding Wyandra altogether.
“Our top priority at this stage is finishing the new access route as quickly as possible, with a site survey and design also underway for a bridge replacement,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR).
Murweh Shire Council Mayor Denis Cook says it’s essential that the Mitchell Highway is repaired as quickly as possible.
“We’ve got to work very hard to try and fix up the area where the explosion took place but there’s debris for miles there, there’s a railway bridge just hanging and a railway line, that all has to be made safe… things are not easy to do.”
Update, a bypass road will be available from Wednesday 24/09/2014
The side track alongside the damaged section is open so no more problems except that minor delays may occur. Heading down tomorrow from Tambo and Wyandra is a definite stopover for us.