Queensland road conditions

[Pwoffey]

In these wet, muddy and flood-y times, I wonder if anyone can explain to me what the "4WD only" status of some of the outback QLD roads means on the https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/index.html site. In particular, does it permit one to tow a camper behind one's 4WD?

[Jasonmc73]

In these wet, muddy and flood-y times, I wonder if anyone can explain to me what the "4WD only" status of some of the outback QLD roads means on the https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/index.html site. In particular, does it permit one to tow a camper behind one's 4WD?

Too many roads & not enough shovels to fix them, some underwater not for the 1st time this year.

At the moment mud, floods, washouts & map says many roads closed, will be floods & mud.

I'm no expert but the water will run out of the channel country for a while once it is flooded & the black soil country, the mud is bottomless

I haven't been taking much notice of how West rains have penetrated in this round of falls , but Sth East this week has had between 10 & 18 inches for the week on top of extensive floods

It is flooding as we speak looking on social media say 6 hours due West of Brisbane in that area,

500k's from Brisbane West Nor West (Roma) i can see flooded road discussions on social media with photo's

Join this Facebook group for info, but appears to me to be a fair bit of water about the black soil & channel country

St George QLD Road Conditions, look it up


Below is end of March
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-...nths/100948580

[Dicko1]

In these wet, muddy and flood-y times, I wonder if anyone can explain to me what the "4WD only" status of some of the outback QLD roads means on the https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/index.html site. In particular, does it permit one to tow a camper behind one's 4WD?

No idea...however if I saw a "4wd only" sign I wouldn't contemplate taking a trailer unless previously having driven on the road...even then I,d be prepared to turn back if my gamble didn't pay off. Every time we get really heavy rain up here I cringe at the news reports of f,wits charging through flooded streets and roads. Lets take it literally...
4wd,s Only"...your trailer is not 4wd .so therefore not permitted...simples.

[Jasonmc73]

No idea...however if I saw a "4wd only" sign I wouldn't contemplate taking a trailer unless previously having driven on the road...even then I,d be prepared to turn back if my gamble didn't pay off. Every time we get really heavy rain up here I cringe at the news reports of f,wits charging through flooded streets and roads. Lets take it literally...
4wd,s Only"...your trailer is not 4wd .so therefore not permitted...simples.

Case by case basis.

Beach is 4WD example.

At moment i suspect "4wd" only is washouts & slippery mud,.

But still that much water about it's a dangerous prospect if your not a local.

I'm a chicken & would stay out of the black soil channel countries until further notice

Once it dries out, case by case road by road basis, i wouldn't be overly concerned once it dries out, just be happy to make a plan B.

At the moment not for me, but as i say i'm a chicken .

[Jasonmc73]

A copy paste from another group


Road closures as at 6:45am 14/5/22 from TMR. Information correct at the time of posting. Please add updates in the comments thanks Leanne Dyer Admin
Balonne Highway
Nebine
Patterson Creek approximately thirty kilometres, west of Bollon
Balonne Highway
Nebine
West of Jhelum Plains Road
Barwon Highway
North Talwood
Approximately five kilometres West of Talwood
Bruce Highway
Gympie
Between Excelsior Road and Hall Lane Diversions in place on Brisbane Road
Carnarvon Highway
Thallon
Approximately thirty kilometres, north of Mungindi
Cunningham Highway
Allan
Sandy Creek Bridge
Cunningham Highway
Warwick
O O Madsen Bridge
Cunningham Highway
Clintonvale
In the vicinity of Freestone Creek
Cunningham Highway
Tarome / Tregony
From Clumber to the top of the Cunningham Gap
D'aguilar Highway
Woodford
Stanley River bridge west of Woodford
D'aguilar Highway
Kilcoy
at Kilcoy Creek east of Kilcoy
Leichhardt Highway
Dalwogon
At Wallan Creek
Leichhardt Highway
Condamine / Moonie
Between Condamine and Moonie
New England Highway
Glengallan
In the vicinity of Backwater Creek
New England Highway
Glengallan
Between Diggles Road and Cunningham Highway
Warrego Highway (Crossroads)
Crowley Vale / Forest Hill
Between Forest Hill Fernvale Road and Maroney Road
*awaiting bridge inspection
Wide Bay Highway
Bells Bridge
Bauple Woolooga Road ( Woolooga Road)
Gundiah
Clifton Leyburn Road
Ellangowan
Between Passmore Road and Toowoomba Karara Road
Condamine Meandarra Road
Condamine / Meandarra
Meandarra To Condamine
Dingo Mount Flora Road
Golden Mile Road
Dysart / May Downs
from Bore Creek to peak downs intersection various locations
Esk Kilcoy Road
Hazeldean
at Beam Creek Bridge
Fitzroy Developmental Road
Bingegang / MacKenzie River
From Twelve Mile Creek through to McKenzie River Capella Road
Fitzroy Developmental Road
May Downs
Between Golden Mile Road and Dysart-Middlemount Road
Fitzroy Developmental Road
Rhydding / Taroom
From Leichhardt Highway to Dawson Highway. Open to local traffic only.
Gatton Clifton Road
Ma Ma Creek / Winwill
Between Grantham Winwill Road and Mount Sylvia Road
Gatton Esk Road
Adare / Lake Clarendon
In the vicinity of Lockyer Creek
Gatton Helidon Road
Grantham / Helidon
From Helidon to Grantham
Gayndah Mt Perry Road
Mount Perry
at Sunday Creek
Gladstone Monto Road
Boyne Valley
At Boyne River
Gympie Woolooga Road
Gympie / Southside
Kidd Bridge
Haigslea Amberley Road
Amberley / Walloon
Five Mile Bridge over Bremer River between Bell St and Hansen Rd
Hensley Drive
Cloncurry
Hughenden Muttaburra Road
Tablederry
Muttaburra to Hughenden
Ipswich Rosewood Road
Amberley / Rosewood
Between School St and Haigslea Amberley Rd, including 7 Mile Bridge
Jackson Wandoan Road
Wandoan
In the vicinity of Sundown Road
Jackson Wandoan Road
Wandoan
Intersection with Leichhardt Highway
Jackson Wandoan Road
Jackson North
Tchanning Creek
Kennedy Developmental Road
Hughenden / Lyndhurst
Matchbox Creek 20km from Hughenden
Kilcoy Murgon Road
Sheep Station Creek
Sheep Station Creek Number one
Marian Eton Road
North Eton
At Sandy Creek Floodway
Maryborough Biggenden Road
Aramara & Lakeside
Meandarra Talwood Road
Meandarra / Westmar
Meandarra to Westmar
Mitchell Saint George Road
Saint George
Horse Creek approximately one hundred and sixty six kilometres, south of Mitchell
Noondoo Mungindi Road
Thallon
Pittsworth Felton Road
Felton
At Hodgson Creek
Pomona Kin Kin Road
Pinbarren
Flash Flooding at Six Mile Creek
Prairie Road
Prairie
Muttaburra to Prarie
Roma Condamine Road
Moraby
Dogwood Creek
Roma Taroom Road
Taroom
At Sandy Creek Bridge
Roma Taroom Road
Eurombah
Kangaroo Creek
Roma Taroom Road
Eurombah
Closed between Burradoo Road amd Roma Taroom Road intersection
Rosewood Laidley Road
Calvert / Lanefield
closed east of Bunney Rd
Surat Developmental Road
Glenmorgan / Wellesley
Surat to Glenmorgan
Talwood Mungindi Road
North Talwood
Approximately eleven kilometres south of Talwood
Tin Can Bay Road
Victory Heights
Closed at Moody Creek
Tin Can Bay Road
Gympie
Between John Street and Phoenix Street
Toowoomba Karara Road
Ellangowan / Felton South
Condamine River
Torbanlea Pialba Road
Takura
Between Toogum Road and Mungomery Road
Warwick Allora Road
Deuchar
Glengallan Creek
Warwick Killarney Road
Murrays Bridge
Yuleba Surat Road
Yuleba
Yuleba Taroom Road
Yuleba North
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[nj swb]

In SA, "4wd" is one step away from "Closed", and is no towing (and 4wd under 3T - so that counts me out, and most LandCruisers, Patrols etc...)

I'd err on the side of caution and presume the Qld definitions are the same.

[Pwoffey]

Thanks all. I'll be putting Plan B into action.

[grumpmeister]

If in doubt ring the local copper & ask them, after all it's they who enforce the rules.

[Jasonmc73]

Thanks all. I'll be putting Plan B into action.

That would be my choice as well,

Too much water about, floods few months apart in many areas at a glance.

Cooler weather now so it won't dry in a hurry, grounds pretty full for many places

In the brigalow country you'll find fair bit of black soil, basically the more wheels you have the more bogged you'll be, if you were to venture off the bitumen or improved dirt road surfaces even if not flooded

[Kingbrown]

Drives me nuts when I see what's done to wet roads by people who insist on pushing through.
Different story when the place is inundated but in many instances it would only be a day or two before the surface dries out sufficiently for travel to resume.

Does Plan B factor the distinct possibility that the way forward will be blocked when you've travelled 300km or more . . . . and then have to turn back to find an alternative route ? How much fuel do we keep in reserve ?

For planning a route around closed roads I've found that the RACQ website is better/easier to use than the Main Roads website, especially when using a mobile phone.

The map of outback roads that's produced by Transport SA gives a very clear picture of open/restricted/closed status. Coloured lines are presented at a glance rather than the others that use individual dot points for locations that you have to interrogate for more detail.

[Pwoffey]

I have travelled very extensively in many remote areas of northern Australia over the years and always do plenty of research before doing so. I am well aware of the danger to both my vehicle(s) and to the roads of irresponsible driving, and I have witnessed not a little of this in others. My initial query was simply to ascertain what was the actual meaning of one of the Qld road warning signs, since it was not defined in any of the material I looked at online (maybe I missed it). I also sent an email to Qld DTMR, but their promise of a 3 week turnaround in responding left me a little underwhelmed.

On any of my trips I always have alternative plans, often several, and I would encourage others to do so. It is a little easier for me, perhaps, as I am retired and time pressures are less than for those with more restricted schedules. One must also consider each element and section of a journey. For example, at present, if I wanted to get to Karumba from Adelaide, I cannot do it in my usual way, since many sections of road north of Tibooburra are closed, but by diverting east through Cobar and then north it is possible. However, if I want to then travel west from Normanton to Burketown and, say, into Boodjamulla, it would be very problematic. Further although it seems (from the NT road map) that roads in the NT are all open, there are closures on the Qld side of the border west from Burketown. So, you have to consider every section and decide if doing all the hard yards (miles) to get to the area is going to be worth it if you get stymied later on. Fuel is never a problem for me (81L aux tank) but I've had to help people out who didn't plan on detours and retreats (or in one case, a ruptured fuel tank).

My own Plan B, at present, is not to go north this year at all. In many other years I have gone north (Pilbara, Kimberley, Arnhem Land, Gulf, Cape York etc) quite early in the "dry" and have not had a problem. This year my plans look like being squashed. Luck of the draw. But I have others plans .

[Dicko1]

I have travelled very extensively in many remote areas of northern Australia over the years and always do plenty of research before doing so. I am well aware of the danger to both my vehicle(s) and to the roads of irresponsible driving, and I have witnessed not a little of this in others. My initial query was simply to ascertain what was the actual meaning of one of the Qld road warning signs, since it was not defined in any of the material I looked at online (maybe I missed it). I also sent an email to Qld DTMR, but their promise of a 3 week turnaround in responding left me a little underwhelmed.

On any of my trips I always have alternative plans, often several, and I would encourage others to do so. It is a little easier for me, perhaps, as I am retired and time pressures are less than for those with more restricted schedules. One must also consider each element and section of a journey. For example, at present, if I wanted to get to Karumba from Adelaide, I cannot do it in my usual way, since many sections of road north of Tibooburra are closed, but by diverting east through Cobar and then north it is possible. However, if I want to then travel west from Normanton to Burketown and, say, into Boodjamulla, it would be very problematic.
Dont think you,d have any problem getting to Lawn Hill from Burketown/Gregory at the moment

Further although it seems (from the NT road map) that roads in the NT are all open, there are closures on the Qld side of the border west from Burketown. So, you have to consider every section and decide if doing all the hard yards (miles) to get to the area is going to be worth it if you get stymied later on. Fuel is never a problem for me (81L aux tank) but I've had to help people out who didn't plan on detours and retreats (or in one case, a ruptured fuel tank).

My own Plan B, at present, is not to go north this year at all. In many other years I have gone north (Pilbara, Kimberley, Arnhem Land, Gulf, Cape York etc) quite early in the "dry" and have not had a problem. This year my plans look like being squashed. Luck of the draw. But I have others plans .

[Pwoffey]

Dicko wrote:

Dont think you,d have any problem getting to Lawn Hill from Burketown/Gregory at the moment

Today's road closure map shows that the Normanton to Burketown Road is "4WD" only to Leichhardt Falls. Also, the road from Gregory into Adels Grove is "High Clearance Only" (was "4WD only" a day or so ago) so presumably still not dry. And then the road west from Burketown through Doomadgee/Hell's Gate to the NT is still "4WD only". All this affects my group. Of course it might be that in a little less than 2 weeks, all will be OK, but that's a hell of a long way to drive to bet that it will be. I have the option of doing the trip in reverse, that is, do the NT parts (Elsey, Limmen, Lorella Springs etc) first, then go east in Qld which would give an extra 2-3 weeks for the roads to clear up. My companions and I are toying with that idea. Still a risk. Probably need to decide by mid next week.

Otherwise my alternative Plan is a trip to the Gawler Ranges, Lake Gairdner, Roxby and the Flinders Ranges. Just a bit chillier at this time of year!

[Dicko1]

Dicko wrote:



Today's road closure map shows that the Normanton to Burketown Road is "4WD" only to Leichhardt Falls. Also, the road from Gregory into Adels Grove is "High Clearance Only" (was "4WD only" a day or so ago) so presumably still not dry. And then the road west from Burketown through Doomadgee/Hell's Gate to the NT is still "4WD only". All this affects my group. Of course it might be that in a little less than 2 weeks, all will be OK, but that's a hell of a long way to drive to bet that it will be. I have the option of doing the trip in reverse, that is, do the NT parts (Elsey, Limmen, Lorella Springs etc) first, then go east in Qld which would give an extra 2-3 weeks for the roads to clear up. My companions and I are toying with that idea. Still a risk. Probably need to decide by mid next week.

Otherwise my alternative Plan is a trip to the Gawler Ranges, Lake Gairdner, Roxby and the Flinders Ranges. Just a bit chillier at this time of year!

I had mates up that fishing. Went to Lawn Hill and Hells Gate. Burketown last received rain on the 10th May. . Locals said no issue getting around now, especially on the salt plains that are 100 times more likely to bog you. . I,m only going on what a local told me.

[Pwoffey]

I had mates up that fishing. Went to Lawn Hill and Hells Gate. Burketown last received rain on the 10th May. . Locals said no issue getting around now, especially on the salt plains that are 100 times more likely to bog you. . I,m only going on what a local told me.

That is interesting Dicko. I am intending to phone Hell's Gate Roadhouse and the police at Burketown tomorrow to get a better feel for things. The road closure maps posted by the various state departments are not always up to date.