Road closures start for bridge and culvert flood repairs

12 April 2018

Residents advised early to make own arrangements

Council contractors are beginning to close a number of shire roads to repair damage from the March 2017 flood.

Some of these closures may leave residents upstream of the damage site isolated, possibly for a few days, if there are no alternative access routes available.

While every effort is made to avoid isolating a community, in some cases it cannot be avoided and Council is urging residents to be prepared for any upcoming closure and make their own arrangements to manage the situation.

The Council contractor undertaking the works is providing as much advance notice of a closure to residents as possible. Council is supporting those efforts through media and Facebook posts and its regular Road Wrap listing on the website.

“If there is a possibility of providing an alternate access route while bridges and culverts are being replaced or repaired, that will be done,” Manager Infrastructure Delivery Tim Mackney said. “But on some roads, such as Geles Road at Upper Burringbar, there is no alternative route which Council can approve for use.

“Our contractors are aware of the inconvenience a full closure causes and will work as quickly as possible to get the bridge or culvert replaced, repaired and reopened.

“As soon as the contractor can allow vehicles to pass through a worksite safely, they will assist their passage.”

The contractor also will ensure rubbish bins are picked up and transported across the worksite and back, if necessary.

In the event that an emergency services vehicle has to get through a worksite, the contractors will make that happen.

The road closures that may isolate communities are on those roads where communities were cut off by the floods, mostly in the upper reaches on winding, narrow and steep shire roads.

For upcoming road closures, see Road Wrap in the Tweed Link every week.