Community & Business
14 February, 2024
Palmerston opens early
A BADLY damaged section of the Palmerston Highway has been re-constructed in record time, allowing all traffic, including heavy vehicles, to use the road from Saturday morning.
The urgent works to open a single lane were jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and have been completed ahead of time.
The highway suffered significant landslips and pavement failures as a result of record rainfall associated with ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
Crews from the Department of Transport and Main Roads laid a fresh seal over a temporary track single lane between Crawford’s Lookout and Junction Road earlier last week.
Works included excavating 4200 tonnes of earth, installing 5400 tonnes of rock, laying 1500 tonnes of road base, followed by laying 150 tonnes of asphalt. Crews also installed 60 lengths of stormwater pipe.
Construction of the single lane section began on 8 January 2024 after the hill stopped moving and the ground had dried sufficiently to enable work to begin.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the works had been a top priority.
“We know that there is more work to be done across an absolutely massive area, but I want to assure people we will continue to work with the Queensland Government to forge ahead with the recovery,” he said.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish said crews had put in an enormous effort to reopen what he acknowledged was a critical freight route.
“TMR understands the impact that damage to the Palmerston Highway has had on heavy vehicle operators, the agricultural sector and Tablelands residents and businesses,” he said.
“The damage was significant – the entire hill with the road on it had sunk 2m and shifted 2m sidewards down the hill.
Operators of excess mass vehicles must apply for a permit through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator at www.nhvr.gov.au/about-us/nhvr-portal.
Mr Watt said that through the DRFA, state and local governments were able to undertake emergency works to repair roads to a trafficable condition as soon as practically possible.
