Was blocked drain behind Bruce Highway flooding that stranded thousands of drivers at Burpengary?

A BLOCKED drain could have been the cause of flooding that blocked the Bruce Highway, stranding thousands of motorists during Friday’s killer storm. SEE VIDEO

A BLOCKED drain under the Bruce Highway could have been the cause of flooding that blocked the highway at Burpengary, stranding thousands of motorists last Friday.

When asked what produced the flooding, Transport and Main Roads would only point to the heavy downpour.

One of the stranded drivers was the Caboolture Herald’s Toni Gilliland who said that police told drivers that a blocked drain had caused water to flow on to the highway.

Mrs Gilliland said it was up to 1m deep in places.

Little Burpengary Creek flows under the highway at that point.

She said that at about 5.45pm police told them that it could be 1-2 hours before any vehicles would be able to get through.

She knew of at least one driver who has left his car on the side of the highway near Boundary Rd and walked home to Burpengary.

Another stranded driver, Barb Hyde, said she stopped when she saw cars ahead of her lose traction as they tried to drive through the water before the road was closed by police.

Mrs Hyde said it appeared one car had been swept off the road.

But she thought the driver managed to escape and reach safety.

This video taken by Kenji Arulchelvam shows a torrent of water escaping from the highway after a concrete barrier gave way.

Moreton Bay Regional Council did not respond to questions about the possible cause of the flooding.

TMR said the highway was closed there at 4pm and reopened at 6.30pm.