What a nightmare week it’s been on the Pacific Highway as heavy rain and floodwaters cut the main artery along the New South Wales east coast in several places.
At time of writing, the highway remains closed in both directions between Clybucca and North Kempsey …. several days after the road there was initially sealed due to water on the road.
It has meant chaos for grey nomads, truckies and locals and has hit highway-dependent businesses hard. Travellers between Sydney and Brisbane have been forced to take the longer inland New England highway, which itself is feeling the strain of a massive increase in traffic.
The amount of rain that has fallen has been excessive … and incidentally caused the evacuation of a number of caravan parks … but the extended closure of this vital road has renewed the focus on fixing the Pacific Highway.
“Rain makes treacherous conditions on the Pacific Highway, from water across the road, right through to an increased number of potholes,” said state member for Coffs Harbour Andrew Fraser. “I think it demonstrates clearly the fact that the highway needs to be upgraded as soon as possible.”
Too right, Andrew. There is a lot of major upgrade work going on at various places along the Pacific Highway but the state of this major road remains a disgrace in many places … and does present real dangers to the travelling public.
Meanwhile, the New England Highway has been feeling the strain as traffic continues to divert from the Pacific Highway.
Road crews have been working around the clock to repair flood-damaged sections of the highway in the Hunter Valley. The Roads and Traffic Authority says the bulk of surface damage between Singleton and Scone has now been repaired and potholes north of Scone have been heavily signposted.
Police say the poor road surface may have contributed to the death of a 75-year-old man, who lost control of his three-wheel motorcycle on the New England Highway north of Scone.
The ABC reports there was also widespread damage to cars.
Muswellbrook tyre specialist Chris Kelly estimates well over 100 motorists damaged their cars on the road.
“We’re getting a lot of impact fractures on tyres,” he said. “But we’re seeing a lot of rim damage also, and pretty severe rim damage too, so the potholes that these guys are hitting are fairly significant.”
