The Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) says truckies should be wary of crossing the Ollera Creek Bridge when it reopens later today – they may not get far.
The makeshift Bruce Highway crossing closed for more repairs just hours after the massive convoy went north last night and is expected to be back in action for general crossing at 5pm, weather permitting.
But QTA CEO Gary Mahon says weather modelling from the Bureau of Meteorology shows that the Seymour Bridge between Cardwell and Ingham will be closed until at least late Thursday.
“They can get over Ollera but they can’t go very far,” Mahon told Big Rigs.
“The rains look like they’ll be here until late Thursday so at this stage you’re looking at two days at least until we can go north (again) in the fullest sense.”
Reports filtering into the QTA from roadhouses in the area say it’s “bucketing down”.
“Ollera Creek as well is raining quite hard so work is being held up. Even 5pm is not certain.”
Mahon is hopeful that the Macrossan Bridge might have a “passable” opening late tonight.
“But quite a bit of freight has left Charters Towers and gone back down around Clermont and across up the Bruce, but they’re going to have to stop at Townsville.
“The Gregory Development Road is still closed the way the rains are going, it’s 50/50 as to whether it’s going to open in the next 24 hours as well.
“We’re sort of back to where we were really and we’re going to have to wait another couple of days for any move into Far North Queensland, in or out.”
Mahon said today’s weather developments make last night’s record-setting convoy “very opportune” – it was able to give genuine relief to FNQ communities.
Of the 160-plus trucks that went north, he said 114 of those were also able to come back out loaded with produce.
“The response to this crisis exemplified the resilience and efficiency of the road freight industry,” Mahon added.
“The establishment of a temporary structure by the Australian Defence Force and Transport and Main Roads allowed for the movement of a significant convoy fully loaded trucks across the bridge.
“This operation may have been the largest freight convoy undertaken in Australia, highlighting the scale and urgency of the situation.”
Mahon said local communities, particularly in Ingham, received much-needed essential supplies, including food, medical provisions, and other critical items from last night’s convoy.
“In a time of despair, when many residents faced the loss of their homes and belongings, the timely delivery of these supplies provided vital support and hope.
“The road freight industry always delivers in times of natural disasters. Call them to assemble and they are there.”
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