‘Incredibly busy’: long queues at Brisbane airport and congestion on major arterials amid foggy conditions

Two people remain missing following the latest barrage of “gut-wrenching and “soul destroying” floods to hit southeast Queensland, while more than 500 rapid damage assessments have already been performed as the costs begin to be calculated.

Minister Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan says there have already been 550 rapid damage assessments across the state, including 439 in the Lockyer Valley, as he spoke about the latest flood devastation to hit southeast Queensland.

He also mentioned there are two people missing including a man who went into the Brisbane River from South Bank and a person linked to an abandoned car between Ballandean and Stanthorpe.

Locals inspect a road cut off by floodwater on May 13, 2022 in Laidley. (Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images)

Keiran Wilson, 26, was last seen around 9am on Friday, May 13 driving away from his Ballandean home.

He has failed to contact family or friends and concerns are held for his safety and wellbeing because of flooding in the area.

A search and rescue operation is under way from Bents Rd.

He is described as around 180cm tall with a solid build, brown hair and hazel eyes and was last seen wearing a high visibility polar fleece jumper.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Tanya Milligan said the past few days have been “gut-wrenching and “soul destroying” for the flood-affected region.

“But days like today … it’s a really clear demonstration of great relationships and support that I feel we have as a council,” she said.

Ms Milligan said the community was feeling “fatigued” after a drought earlier this year, floods in February and flooding again last week.

“While the water has subsided … I really believe that it’s the emotional side of things and the build back and the clean-up, that’s the really tough stuff,” she said.

Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan addresses the media from the Emergency Services Complex, Kedron. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The mayor said the clean up would be a marathon and asked her community for patience over the coming months.

There are still 120 roads closed in the area, according to Ms Milligan who said she couldn’t put a figure on how much the rebuild would cost.

A QFES spokesperson said crews were working across the state completing washouts to start the recovery process.

The intense rain may have stopped, but there's still 419 roads closed across Qld. Check https://t.co/twlyQ3m8ND before leaving home. #QldTrafficpic.twitter.com/cSKCn5TBCB

— RACQ (@RACQOfficial) May 16, 2022

While the worst of the rain has passed, foggy conditions and reduced visibility made conditions dangerous for motorists and aircraft in the Brisbane area this morning, as humidity remained.

There was congestion on the Pacific Motorway and Riverside Expressway from Greenslopes to Brisbane City, Centenary Motorway from Darra to Jindalee, Ipswich Motorway inbound between Wacol and Oxley and the Pacific Motorway from Loganholme to Springwood.

Fog blocks the view of the Brisbane CBD from Mt Coot-tha. Picture: Steve Pohlner

It comes as more than 400 roads remain closed across Queensland due to the floods.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a road weather alert for Brisbane early Monday morning but meteorologist Sam Campbell believes that fog should “dissipate pretty quickly”.

⚠️ It’s a busy morning in the domestic terminal - please allow extra time & #packyourpatience as staff work to get everyone checked in & through security. Localised fog may also impact airfield operations.

— Brisbane Airport ✈️ (@BrisbaneAirport) May 15, 2022

“There is a bit of fog around this morning but we are forecasting a maximum of 28 degrees and possible showers, most likely during the afternoon and the evening,” he said.

“Monday is expected to be the foggiest morning but there will some moisture around in the coming days so we couldn’t rule out further fog areas in the coming week.”

A Brisbane Airport spokesman said Brisbane Airport is “incredibly busy” with 50,000 passengers expected to move through the terminal on Monday.

He said aircraft are currently being “escorted” under “low visibility operations”.

“There are incredibly long queues this morning because of Magic Round and leisure passengers as well as FIFO workers,” he said. 

Originally published as ‘Incredibly busy’: long queues at Brisbane airport and congestion on major arterials amid foggy conditions