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Cunningham Highway to be closed for urgent safety works

Cunningham Highway to be closed at top of the Gap from Monday, December 13 until Monday, December 20 to remove two huge boulders at top

December 1, 2010

Queensland’s
Cunningham Highway will be closed at the top of the Gap from 6am to 6pm from Monday, December 13 until Monday, December 20 to remove two huge boulders at the top.

Queensland Main Roads Minster Craig Wallace has advised that there will be partial closures from Wednesday, December 8 to prepare the site for “urgent safety works”.

Traffic will be diverted at key points and motorists will detour along other roads such as the New England and Warrego Highways.

“It’s an inconvenience for people who use the Cunningham Highway, but safety simply must come first,” Wallace says.

“Transport and Main Roads have engaged specialist contractors to remove the two boulders above the highway near Gap Creek Road. With heavy rain predicted, they’ve got to get on with the job straight away.”

Wallace says the work zone will be protected by ballast-filled shipping containers.

“Geotechnical experts will work alongside rock climbers with specialist drilling equipment to shatter the boulders,” he says.

“I’ve been assured by my Department that all going well with the weather, the highway will re-open over the Christmas-New Year period.

“We will do our utmost to ensure the community and stakeholders are kept fully informed.

“I thank motorists in advance for their patience and understanding while these works are being carried out. The bottom line is that these boulders have to go.”

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