Queensland reopens major freight routes
The Queensland Government has confirmed that the majority of the state’s major freight routes have reopened following widespread flooding.
State Transport Minister Scott Emerson made the announcement immediately after engineers reopened the Cunningham Highway.
“A convoy of about 100 trucks were escorted along the highway from Goondiwindi yesterday and today the restrictions were lifted,” Mr Emerson said.
“More than 800 kilometres of roads across the state have reopened in the past 48 hours, kick-starting major economic lifelines.
“Main Roads crews and Police are currently escorting heavy vehicles along the Yeppen floodplain to keep the Bruce Highway open, just south of Rockhampton.
On the rail network, a number of passenger and freight routes remain closed, including Gympie to Rockhampton and between Rosewood and Toowoomba.
Freight operators can apply for heavy vehicle permits that cannot be provided through normal processes in affected regions, or when special access is required in cases of emergency.