Full list: Bruce Highway reopens while other roads and bridges remain flooded

Sections of the Bruce Highway between Ingham and Cairns reopened early Thursday, however some local roads remain under water and more rain is on the way. Live updates on road closures.

Peter Carruthers

@petercarruther1

4 min read

January 30, 2025 - 10:47AM

The Cairns Post

The ACCESS weather model showing a 10-day rain accumulation from Thursday to February 8. Picture: Windy

Cairns

Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Sections of the Bruce Highway between Ingham and Cairns reopened early Thursday morning, however some local roads remain underwater and more rain is on the way, according to the Bureau.

At 6am the Department of Transport and Main Roads announced the Bruce Highway at Moresby, Silky Oak and the section between Ingham and Cardwell were all open to traffic.

Some rain accumulation models have predicted in excess of 1000mm of rain in the next 10 days on parts of the Cassowary Coast.

More modest totals of up to 500mm are expected between Mossman and Townsville.

The Mulgrave, Russell, Barron, Johnstone and Tully Rivers are all steady or falling as of about 8am on Thursday

However the Bureau of Meteorology has warned showers are forecast for the next few days, with severe thunderstorms possible, which may cause further river level rises.

“The situation is being closely monitored and warnings will be updated as required,” a spokesman said.

ROAD STATUS LIST

Babinda

Flooding of river on Kruckow Access road, Russell River breaching the Clyde Road crossing. Long delays expected and residents are advised to avoid the area.

Goldsborough

Access to Goldsborough via Peet’s Bridge has reopened after water levels fell. The Gillies Range Road is also open.

Gamboola

Burke Development Road near the Lynd River, road closed to traffic in all directions, long delays expected.

Kuranda Range

Kuranda Range road is now open. Drivers should be alert for debris and water over the road.

Innisfail

Innisfail Japoon Road, Gracey Creek, all lanes affected due to water over the road.

Tully

Tully Mission Beach road, Banyan creek, all lanes affected with long delays advised due to water over the road.

Wednesday weather wrap

Earlier on Wednesday 24-hour rain totals exceeding 200mm in already-saturated catchments triggered the minor flooding of some Far North rivers and brought major headaches for motorists.

Flooding, landslides and trees falling on roads have resulted in delays for drivers heading to Cairns from the Atherton Tablelands and the south via the Bruce Highway.

National Route 1 between Ingham and Cardwell remains closed after the Seymour River broke its banks overnight.

Queensland Traffic has advised the road is covered with water at Gairloch, north of Ingham and the route is closed in both directions.

The Bruce Highway remains closed between Ingham and Cardwell. Picture: Supplied

Casualties of the flooding included a rigid heavy vehicle that appears to have toppled after the driver veered off the roadway and into a culvert.

As of 12.30pm on Wednesday, floodwater has also cut the Bruce Hwy at Fishery Falls, according to the Queensland Police Service.

QPS is also reporting landslides at Bellenden Ker, while smaller roads such as Clyde Rd, at East Russell, have been inundated.

There has been water reported over the highway near Boobah Creek at Moresby, south of Innisfail.

The South Johnstone Rd at South Johnstone has also been closed to traffic.

Bruce Highway is closed between Ingham and Cardwell due to flooding of the Seymour River. A truck tipped over after veering off the roadway on Tuesday morning. Picture: Jeff Lion

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said it only took one day of wet season rain to bring the highway to a standstill.

“It is an absolute travesty, that in 2025 our national freight artery grinds to a halt after a day of standard wet-season rain,” he said.

“And it’s no surprise to locals and freight companies who have endured this recurring interruption every wet season.

“This time, it’s on the first day of a North Queensland tropical low, a stark reminder of the failure to progress critical floodproofing upgrades for more than a decade.

“This is not a funding issue, the money was allocated a long time ago.

The Bruce Highway at Fishery Falls is closed due to flooding. Picture: Queensland Police Service

“The Gairloch project, which includes the Seymour crossing, has been sitting on the QTRIP (Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program) for over a decade.”

Closer to Cairns, the Gillies Range Rd is now closed due to flooding.

A landslide and tree down across a section of the Kuranda Range Rd blocked all traffic until a single lane reopened at 5.55am.

The road fully reopened at 11.20am.

Pine Creek Yarrabah Rd is currently closed due to flooding at the Middle Creek floodway at Green Hill / Packers Camp.

A big tree over the road at the top of the Gillies Range Rd closed the route for a period on Wednesday morning. Picture: Kevin Clarke

Overnight access to Goldsborough via Peets Bridge over the Mulgrave River was blocked and reopened briefly on Wednesday morning.

The river at 9.41am was 30cm below the height of the bridge and rising again, despite a falling tide, according to Bureau of Meteorology automatic monitoring equipment.

At 11.05 the bridge there was 65cm of water over the bridge.

As of midday, it and the Gillies Range Rd is now closed due to flooding.

Drivers have also reported water over Riverstone Rd near the roundabout at the start of the Gilles Range Rd in Gordonvale.

On the mountain at about 11am a ute crashed and police are on scene diverting traffic until a tow truck arrived.

A landslide has partially blocked the Kuranda Range Road. At 5.55am one lane of the mountain road opened. Picture: Renee Wuoti

Freshwater Ck at Redlynch or the bridge near Ryan Weare Park is falling and currently

Tinaroo Falls Dam at the head of the Barron River is 0.16m above the spillway with a capacity of 101.24 per cent.

All Barron River systems are below minor flood levels with the exception of the Clohesy River at Bolton Rd where the water is over the bridge after reaching minor flood level.

While the Daintree has so far missed out on heavy falls in the past 24 hours, many coastal areas between Kuranda, Cairns and Ingham have received rainfall in the triple digits.

According to the Bureau further heavy rainfall is possible into Wednesday, which may cause further river level rises.

The Mulgrave River a short time ago was lapping at the Peets Bridge. Picture: Supplied

Peets Bridge at 11am was under water.

The Gillies Range Rd and Peet's Bridge have been cut by floodwaters. January 29, 12.30pm.

Rainfall is then forecast to mostly ease from Wednesday afternoon, though there is the chance of rainfall lingering throughout the week.

Late Tuesday, the Bureau stated minor flooding is likely along the Mulgrave River.

Minor flooding is occurring in the upper catchment at The Fisheries, however no updates have been provided on Wednesday.

Minor flooding is in progress at Euramo and along the Tully River.

On Wednesday at 8.40am the Tully River at Euramo was at 6.25m and steady, peaking above the minor flood level of 6m.

The Tully River at Euramo is likely to remain around the minor flood level overnight Wednesday into Thursday, according to the Bureau.

âš ï¸Minor Flood Warning for the Tully River

MINOR FLOODING LIKELY AT EURAMO TUESDAY EVENING

Further moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast into Wednesday. The situation is being monitored and warnings will be updated as required.https://t.co/WEVxJ2xgVR pic.twitter.com/lNdM0Zmudu
â€” Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 28, 2025