Kuranda Range Rd shut down for emergency night repairs
Frightening images reveal the reason behind emergency night works that have now been ordered to repair large sections of Kuranda Range Rd further undermined by land slips.
Cairns
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Emergency night works have been ordered to repair large sections of Kuranda Range Rd undermined by land slips.
The most recent movement of earth under the roadway, in sections currently under single lane operation, followed emergency repairs of the mountain road badly damaged by the impacts of extreme rain brought by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December.
The emergency works will involve soil nailing and shotcreting (sprayed concrete) which is hoped to temporarily stabilise the slope to prevent further damage to the road.
If further landslips were to occur, there is a risk that the trafficable roadway would become undermined and the road would become completely impassable, according to Transport and Main Roads.
To allow for these additional emergency works Kuranda Range Road will be fully closed at night from Tuesday March 5 until Friday March 15 between 9pm and 4am, weather permitting.
TMR is continuing to investigate long-term solutions for repair and recovery works to the damaged road network, including Kuranda Range Road.
How exactly that will be done, including relevant approvals and preparation of suitable construction methodologies is being prioritised, according to TMR.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish said he understood the planned 10 day closure was “inconvenient,” but the shutdown of the road was “absolutely necessary”.
“Safety is our number one priority,” he said.
“I’d like to thank road users for their patience while we carry out these important emergency works.
The recovery works are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
For up-to-date information about the state-controlled road network, check the QLDTraffic website or call 13 19 40.
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