By Lucy Waldron
The ongoing roadworks at Cunninghams Gap have raised unexpected challenges for transport companies.
The repair project, addressing the cliff face and road below, involves temporary lane closures and restrictions, impacting timely deliveries and logistics for businesses relying on the crucial route connecting the southwest to the east.
Troy Knight from Heavy Haulage International spoke generally on how these roadworks will affect all the trucks that utilise the pass over the Great Dividing Range.
“The timings will have the most impact, because of the traffic lights and soon there will only be certain times large trucks will be allowed through,” Troy said.
In 2024 it is expected that trucks over 2.6 meters wide up to four meters wide and those over four meters wide up to 4.5 meters wide are limited to nighttime passage and trucks exceeding these dimensions would have no access through Cunninghams Gap.
Adding to the challenges, the Bremer Bridge on the Warrego Highway, another vital route, is also slated for roadworks and subsequent closure to trucks in the coming year.
“This is going to ruin us because Bremer and Cunninghams are the two main ways west and south,” Troy said.
“Taking the Pacific Highway means you’ll have to go all the way to Newcastle before you can go back inland.”
Apart from extending travel times, the roadworks are expected to escalate costs for transport businesses, especially due to the necessity of nighttime travel, requiring additional pilots and escorts for large items.
Troy emphasised the financial strain.
“We would have to pay for longer hours, ensure our cars have sleeping quarters and put on extra pilots so our costs will go through the roof,” he said.
At this current stage, Troy does not see any alternatives and with the roadworks expected to be completed in 2025 weather permitting, it will be a long several months of navigation for the transport companies.
While Frasers Livestock Transport and Wickham Freight Lines did not respond to a request to comment, Troy heavily assumed they would be impacted by the timing disruptions these roadworks would create.
The Transport and Main Roads did not respond to a request to comment, however, an update on the current works was sent out last week to inform the public on what to expect and how to navigate the area.
Upcoming activities in the area include earthworks, drainage, and retaining wall construction. Some vegetation removal is necessary, but efforts will be made to minimise impacts the update stated.
Signs will be erected stating ‘Give trucks more space’ to reiterate the safety precautions for the main users of the Gap.
At Cunninghams Gap, the Crest car park has limited access due to construction, with pedestrian access to Mount Mitchell walking track temporarily closed until late December 2023. Additional parking is available at the West Gap Creek picnic area.
Traffic conditions in Cunninghams Gap may cause intermittent delays of up to 15 minutes, Monday to Friday, until Thursday 21 December 2023, with a resumption on 29 January 2024. The project will pause from 21 December 2023 to 8 January 2024.
Updates will be provided on the QLD Traffic website and QPWS park alerts.
