Pacific Highway flood closure leaves driver stranded for hours in NSW

Record floods shut a key stretch of a major highway, stranding drivers for hours and exposing major gaps in detour planning and communication.

Record-breaking floods have submerged the Pacific Highway near Taree for nearly five days, leaving one motorist stranded and unable to get back home for 26 hours.

A 20km stretch between Coopernook and South Taree was closed, forcing motorists like Michael Atkinson to undertake arduous detours last Wednesday.

Flood waters left many motorists isolated earlier on the NSW Mid-North Coast in May. Picture: NewsWire handout/ Transport NSW

Mr Atkinson’s journey from Maclean to Nelson Bay extended to 26 hours due to the closures.

“I found out there was a road closure when I got within 10km of Taree,” he told the ABC.

“It took me 26 hours to get home, driving north, camping in Glen Innes, and then driving all the way inland and up through the Hunter Valley.”

These severe disruptions highlighted the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather events.

The MidCoast Council estimates the financial impact of the highway closure at approximately $29m, taking into account diverted traffic and disrupted supply routes.

But motorists said the confusion and a lack of clear, accurate information about closures and detours made the highway shutdown even more disruptive.

The NSW MidCoast Council estimates the financial impact of the highway closure at approximately $29m. Picture: NewsWire Handout/ Transport NSW

The Pacific Highway is a major supply route for the entire north coast of NSW, and Transport for NSW estimates that more than 26,000 vehicles use the Pacific Highway near Taree everyday with 80 per cent of them being cars and 20 per cent being trucks.

Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said on Monday people needed to be mindful when driving in challenging conditions.

“LiveTraffic doesn’t tell anyone to go anywhere,” Ms Aitchison said.

“Everyone’s doing their best but it’s a difficult situation because no matter what somebody saw 10 minutes before they went in to update LiveTraffic, it can change in an instant.

“It’s a challenging situation and I’ll be looking at what we can do better next time.”

The recent floods have also resulted in significant human and economic tolls across the state.

At least four fatalities have been reported, with nearly 50,000 residents isolated due to inundated roads.

Emergency services have conducted over 675 rescues, and the Insurance Council of Australia has received more than 1,600 claims related to flood damage.

Originally published as Pacific Highway flood closure leaves driver stranded for hours in NSW