By Jeremy Sollars
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) says it has completed “assessments” of the cliff face at Cunninghams Gap above the highway following major rockfalls in January of this year.
The landslides caused closures of the highway and significant disruptions to transport including the local trucking industry and renewed calls for a permanent “fix” at Gap.
The rockfalls were attributed the prolonged drought and the 2019 bushfires which TMR said had contributed to destabilisation of the sheer cliff face above the highway through the Gap.
Land-slips at the Gap over many years resulted in $60 million worth of engineering works over a two-year period completed in 2012.
Those works included removal and ‘pinning’ of sections of the cliff along with reinforcement of the road.
Concrete barriers and shipping containers on the western side of the highway through the Gap have since formed a line of defence against further land slips.
The Free Times this week asked TMR for an update on investigations since the January road closures.
A spokeswoman said since January “specialist consultants have produced detailed mapping of the fire-affected areas and geotechnical assessments of the slopes have been completed”.
“The information is currently being reviewed and will be used to develop options for rectifying damage, stabilising the area and improving roadway resilience,” the spokeswoman said.
“The recommendations will also form part of an application for Federal Government recovery funding.
“TMR contractors carry out weekly inspections of the Cunningham Highway at Cunninghams Gap.
“Detailed inspections of the road, drains, signs, barriers, and slopes are conducted with any possible issues logged for action.
“Evidence of slope stability issues can include debris on the road or behind the barriers and cracks or depressions in the pavement.
“Inspections are increased during heavy rainfall and other extreme weather events such as bushfires.
“Following recent severe bushfires, TMR crews repaired damage as soon as it was safe to do so ensuring the Cunningham Highway was made safe for the community.
“Immediate repairs included clearing damaged trees, removing debris from drains and minor road patching. Temporary barriers were also placed on the road to ensure the safety of passing motorists from any further falling debris.
“Ongoing maintenance and weekly routine inspections also continue in the area.”
The spokeswoman said ‘inclinometer’ devices – which measure any changes in the level of the road surface – remain in place at Clayton’s Gully several kilometres down from the Gap on the eastern side of the range.
