TMR to open new bridge ahead of expected overnight river rises

Far North supply trucks and emergency vehicles are in a race to cross the new Ollera Creek bridge before an expected severing of the Bruce Hwy at the Seymour River early Tuesday morning.

The Port of Cairns on Monday received 11 containers of fresh produce to distribute to supermarkets and communities across the Far North. Picture: Phillip Whykes

Authorities are urging people to stay calm following reports of shoppers abusing supermarket staff in a rush to secure grocery items amid an ongoing struggle for heavy vehicle operators trying to resupply the Far North.

On Monday the Bruce Highway opened for the first time in a week between Cairns and Ingham, while a temporary fix to a destroyed bridge at Ollera Creek is expected to open on Tuesday.

Many transport companies had sent vehicles north via the inland freight route which has now been severed by a swollen Burdekin River at the Macrossan Bridge outside Charters Towers.

The Gregory Development Road is also cut at Fletchers Creek between Charters Towers and Greenvale.

Food, water and medical supplies were dropped to the truck drivers and campers stranded at Fletchers Creek. Picture: NQ Freighters

NQ Freighters co-owner Rachel Purdy said a chopper had been sent to drop supplies to stranded Rushway, Lindsay Bros and Followmont truckies.

Ms Purdy said empty trucks or vehicles with backorders were turning around and trying to get south via the Palmerston Highway through Innisfail.

“The Hann River is still flooded as of this morning, all the trucks and campers are isolated and are turning around,” she said.

“The Bruce Highway is now open but the Ollera Creek crossing was for emergency service vehicles only and now the temporary bridge has been removed and they are a day away from reopening it.

“I’m hoping by Wednesday things will be very normal, if we don’t get any more rain, once the Burdekin at the Macrossan goes down and that will relieve a lot of pressure.

“It has been a game of cat and mouse and dodging rain and there were so many unpredictable falls in short time frames.”

The Department of Transport and Main Roads advised on Monday the Ollera Creek bridge between Townsville and Ingham is set to open at around 8pm tonight, for freight, supply and emergency vehicles travelling north to Cairns.

“While future additional work will be required, the opening of the Ollera Creek Bridge has been fast-tracked to facilitate freight movement, prior to expected further flooding impacts north of Ingham in coming days,” a TMR spokesman said.

Freight, supply and emergency vehicles travelling north from Ingham to Cairns have been urged to use the window from around 8pm until the Seymour Bridge closes for essential travel.

Ollera Creek Bridge was cut in half from flood water on the Bruce Highway north of Townsville.

Freight, supply and emergency vehicles travelling north will be prioritised because the Bruce Highway at the Seymour River, between Cardwell and Ingham, is forecast to close in the early hours of Tuesday morning due to flooding, however, this is subject to change.

The priority movement of freight, supply and emergency vehicles will be co-ordinated by Queensland Police.

On Tuesday afternoon the Ollera Creek Bridge will also open to general traffic, TMR stated.

Traffic control and speed reductions will remain in place at the Ollera Creek Bridge for the foreseeable future.

An ADF Chinook helicopter delivered much-needed supplied into Cardwell at the weekend. Picture: Bree James

At the weekend an Australian Defence Force Chinook helicopter dropped emergency supplies directly into the flood-ravaged community of Carwell and more air drops are planned to restock Far North hospitals and the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre outside Mareeba.

Alicia Noble from grocery wholesaler Far North Fresh said supplies were running low on the Tablelands but there were plans in the work to keep supply lines open.

“We have a bit of a plan in place, hopefully we can get something up in the next couple of days,” she said.

“We are going to try and airfreight, we are going to see what we can do.”

About 200 pallets of Coles stock, including meat, fresh produce and groceries are have arrived in Cairns today via barge.

Pallets of food arriving off the truck in Cairns last week. Picture: Brendan Radke

While the majority of customers have been understanding and patient, at the weekend stock limits at some supermarkets and food supply anxiety reportedly triggered desperate scenes at some stores as groceries arrived.

“Police are asking residents to be considerate of others when purchasing essential supplies, as we work together to get through this severe weather event,” a Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said.

No deliveries by road to the major supermarkets have been able to get through to Cairns on Monday.

Follow @petercarruther1

Originally published as TMR to open new bridge ahead of expected overnight river rises