Interstate truckie Daniel Schweiger got a sobering reminder this morning of just how quickly road conditions can change during the wild spring weather hammering Victoria and the eastern seaboard.
After taking a rest break during a run from Adelaide to Sydney, the driver for Yorke Removals woke at the Narrandera Ampol to find the flood waters lapping at the rear tyres of his trailer.
“I was the last one in the truck parking area at the Ampol this morning. The road through there will likely be closed later this arvo,” he told Big Rigs via Facebook.
“The road is closed from Narrandera to Wagga, so gotta take a bypass around.”
Leanne Dyer, administrator for Facebook group On the Pads Australia, is keeping close tabs on the ever-changing road conditions and urged drivers to heed the warnings.
“The main thing is, don’t go around road closed signs,” cautions Dyer.
“Even if there looks to be no water you will get a hefty fine if caught. And understand that things change quickly – one minute a route is open, next minute it’s closed.
“I’m starting to see more road closures happening in NSW now and still Echuca-Shepparton and many highways still closed in Victoria.
“Stay safe boys and girls – no load is worth your life.”
Here’s the latest road closures in NSW from livetraffic.com, as of 9.05am, October 17:
Kamilaroi Highway has reopened between Wee Waa and Narrabri. It is still closed between Wee Waa and Merah North.
Cobb Highway is closed between Wilcannia and Ivanhoe. Riverina Highway is closed in both directions between Federation Way and Bull Plain Road at Coreen. Newell Highway is closed in both directions at Gillenbah, south of Narrandera. Cobb Highway is closed southbound at Dhungala Bridge in Moama. Meninya Street Bridge (Old Cobb Highway) is also closed southbound in Moama. Newell Highway (Sherriff Street) is closed between Dowling Street and Cross Street at Forbes. Lachlan Valley Way is closed between Forbes and Gooloogong, as well as at Jemalong west of Forbes. IThe Escort Way is closed between Forbes and Eugowra. Oxley Highway is closed in both directions between Warren and Collie (west of Gilgandra). Castlereagh Highway is closed to light vehicles about 15 kilometres south of Walgett. Kamilaroi Highway is closed between Bourke and Walgett. Kamilaroi Highway is also closed between Narrabri and Merah North. Carnarvon Highway remains closed in both directions between Garah and Weemelah.
For the latest road closure information in Victoria, visit traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au.