Busy CBD off-ramp closes again due to runoff from Queen’s Wharf

A busy Riverside Expressway off-ramp has closed to traffic at least five times this week because debris from the Queen’s Wharf development caused the road to flood.

The two-lane Margaret Street off-ramp was closed at 10am on Friday morning, the latest in a series of rain-induced closures, for what was described as “emergency roadworks”. Five hours later, it reopened.

It has become a daily occurrence, with Transport and Main Roads workers also on site on Thursday afternoon clearing debris so the water could get away and the off-ramp could reopen to traffic.

Garden debris from the Queen’s Wharf precinct washed into drains along the Margaret Street off-ramp, forcing road closures.Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt

“Maintenance crews … attended the Margaret Street off-ramp and determined that the cause of the flooding appears to be sediment from the newly laid garden bed material at the Queen’s Wharf development,” a Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesman said on Thursday.

The Margaret Street off-ramp carries traffic from the city’s north and west into the CBD, and has repeatedly closed during this week’s storms.

While the localised flooding has not damaged the road surface, workers have had to visit the scene to manually clear the drains.

At least five times since Sunday, traffic monitoring services have alerted drivers to the off-ramp being closed due to localised flooding, even though it is an elevated structure well above the Brisbane River.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast more heavy rain in Brisbane on Friday, before the weather clears.

The off-ramp may need to close again, regardless of the weather, to allow for a more extensive investigation into the subsurface blockages.

“Our crews are working to remove water and debris and assist with interim measures, while collaborating with the developer to devise and implement a long-term solution to this issue,” the spokesman said.

A spokesman for the Destination Brisbane Consortium, which operates Queen’s Wharf and its casino, said the work was occurring outside peak hours to limit the disruption.

TMR said it was working with developers to determine long-term solutions for flooding at the site.Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt

“Destination Brisbane Consortium apologises for any inconvenience as we work with TMR to resolve the situation,” he said.

Brisbane recorded 47 millimetres from Tuesday through to Thursday, and almost 70 millimetres on Sunday alone, marking the highest recorded daily rainfall in November.

But the worst of Queensland’s November rain fell out west, where some areas reported almost 100 millimetres in an hour.

Lesdale, 700 kilometres west of Brisbane, had 92 millimetres ion an hour, while nearby Charleville had 68 millimetres in an hour, causing road closures and flash flooding.

While there was flooding across the Murweh Shire, a levy bank and gully diversion system helped protect Charleville from major damage.

Queensland’s central coast was preparing for a growing trough that was set to bring up to 200 millimetres of rain between Rockhampton and Mackay.

Mackay received 70 millimetres of rain in 24 hours on Wednesday, but the bureau cancelled its severe weather warning on Thursday morning.

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