Extent & cost of flood damage to State's highway system will take some time to determine

25/3/99
Transport Minister Murray Criddle said today it would take Main Roads some time to determine the extent and cost of flood damage to the State's highway system in the wake of tropical cyclones Elaine and Vance.
Mr Criddle said Main Roads crews were working throughout the State since the first signs of flooding, removing debris and making minor repairs to get traffic flowing again.
In the north, heavy follow-up rains through the Gascoyne are hampering road clean up operations.
"The Gascoyne River peaked at about 12.30pm this afternoon, making the bridge crossing impassable," Mr Criddle said.
"Main Roads realises the importance of clearing this bridge as quickly as possible, to enable the flow of supplies and equipment to Exmouth and Onslow.
"It may be re-opened as early as tomorrow morning, depending on how rapidly flood waters recede."
Mr Criddle said preliminary investigations in the north indicated that damage to roads was not massive, and limited to off road drainage and scouring of shoulders.
"The long-term scenario may prove to be worse if flood waters have penetrated sealed
highways and wet the gravel beneath," he said.
"This will mean major repairs at a later stage."
In the Midlands, road systems are getting back to normal following the flooding of Moora.
"Great Northern and Brand Highways have re-opened with no indications of severe damage," the Minister said.
"At this stage, most of the heavier damage appears to have occurred on the Midlands Road where bridge abutments and approaches have been affected."
In the Goldfields-Esperance region, the Eyre, Great Eastern and Goldfields Highways have reopened.
"We expect damage to the Esperance-Coolgardie Highway, near Widgiemooltha, where flood waters remain a half metre deep across the road and only heavy vehicles can get through," Mr Criddle said.
"Similarly, Main Roads expects some longer term damage due to moisture penetration of a section of Great Eastern Highway west of Coolgardie near the Bulla Bulling turn-off.
"The good news is, however, that dust is again being whipped up off the sidetracks at the Fraser Range road works on Eyre Highway.
"This section was closed for a short period earlier this week due to torrential rain. Main Roads will bear the cost of lime treatment for the side tracks, initiated prior to the rains reaching the work site.
"One hundred tonnes of lime, used to soak up moisture, was trucked to the Fraser Range from Perth over last weekend when it appeared likely the remnants of Cyclone Vance would reach the Nullarbor.
"Without this proactive response from Main Roads, Eyre Highway would have been closed for a lot longer period."
Mr Criddle said that cost estimates to repair damage to narrow gauge railway lines throughout the wheatbelt currently stood at $2 million while repairs to the standard gauge line would cost an estimated $2 million.
Serious washaway damage was evident at 13 locations on the Kalgoorlie to Esperance standard gauge line, while eight significant washaways had occurred on the Kwinana-Kalgoorlie line.
Mr Criddle said the first full Prospector service would resume on Monday afternoon. In the meantime buses would operate between Merredin and Kalgoorlie. The road coach service between Kalgoorlie and Esperance would remain cancelled until further notice.
Media contact: Doug Cunningham 9321 7333