The Bruce Highway has been closed again due to flooding as up to 200mm of rain causes more wet weather issues in Queensland’s north.
Just a month after a combination of cyclones and flooding last saw the Bruce closed as water levels rose, the major freight route is once again cut in the same places.
The latest update from the Queensland Traffic website is that the Bruce is closed between Cardwell and Ingham, while the Star Bridge is over and Herveys Range Road between Greenvale and Townsville is also closed.
Flooding at the Seymour River has closed the road between Ingham and Cardwell, whine Ingham Halifax Road is also closed with long delays expected.
The Bruce closure also impacts Helens Hill and Toobanna, while Pinnacle Hill Road is also closed to all traffic in Blackrock.
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Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) CEO Gary Mahon says Gregory Developmental Road is also cut due to flooding, with the Kennedy Highway not far behind.
“This couldn’t reinforce more the need for financial assistance for fleets and priorities for road and bridge upgrades in the north,” he told OwnerDriver.
“We have been saying for quite some time that enough is enough and that it’s time for action.
“We need to see more of a focus on an immediate solution for the challenges we are constantly facing in the wet season.
“People will be waking up again this morning and scrambling to divert trucks, which is increasing financial pressure on operators in the area. The impact is far and wide – Brisbane fleets will be affected, while southern states will once again face a lack of produce coming out of the Tablelands.
“We ask the state and federal governments why freight has been excluded for disaster subsidies so far when we are an industry that the community relies on? We don’t understand why we aren’t being considered for support.”