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Residents are urged to exercise patience and drive to conditions as Council once again takes stock of the damage to the Tweed's road network following the second flooding event in four weeks.
More than 1,900 road repair jobs at an estimated cost of more than $40 million were logged in the system following the rain event of 28 February, with that figure likely to rise in coming days as road crews assess the Tweed's roads following last night's flooding rains.
Already, several new issues have been recorded, including at Tweed Valley Way between the Tumbulgum intersections where damage to the road surface from the first flood has worsened, forcing its closure in both directions. Tweed Valley Way is also closed at other points due to floodwater, including at Oaks Avenue. Detours are in place where possible.
Dozens of additional road closures and cautions are in place across the Tweed, with their status updated via MyRoadInfo.
Major landslips at Scenic Drive in Bilambil, Reserve Creek Road and at Tyalgum Road, which occurred during the first flooding event, remain perilous and may be further damaged. Motorists are urged not to move road closure barriers as these are in place to save lives.
Emergency works in response to this most recent flood event have commenced and will entail repair of damage to Tweed Valley Way at Tumbulgum, removal of mud from this road and Dulguigan Rd, removal of landslips and repair of washouts on Byrrill Creek Road and many other rural roads. Additional landslips also occurred overnight on Tomewin Rd and Balfours Road, Bungalora.
Mayor of Tweed Chris Cherry asked the community to remain patient as Council works to fix the road network.
"Our roads have suffered incredible damage – especially in our hinterland areas – and it will take many months or even years to get back to where we were before the flood," Cr Cherry said.
"We urge the community to be patient and trust that our staff have their best interests at heart. Please don't be that person who abuses workers who are doing everything they can to safely respond to high priority road hazards caused by the latest downpour.
"Our first priority is always to respond to residents in life-threatening situations and the worst hit areas. We target our busiest roads first and any areas where people may be isolated. After that, we will move to other areas of the Tweed.
"While it may take some time to get around to areas of less significant damage, we will get there. Sometimes repairs to problems like potholes will be temporary in nature to make roads passable until more permanent repairs can be done."
Motorists are urged to:
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Avoid unnecessary travel during wet weather – even a small rain event has the potential to make already flood-damaged roads unstable and roads that have previously been cleared of mud, trees and other flood debris may also become hazardous as rain washes over them.
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Remain cautious on our roads, especially during and immediately after wet weather.
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Slow down, the posted speed limit is the maximum speed under ideal conditions but when it's wet a slower speed is safer.
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Be patient as crews continue with the clean-up. While roadworks might slow you down in the short term, they will get us all moving more quickly and safely once works are complete.
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Plan for delays and give yourself more travel time to get to your destination.
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Be kind to others on the road.
Read our fact sheet for some tips to help keep you safe on the roads.
