SAFETY

Road Safety

Kempsey-Armidale Road has been closed to all traffic since 2022 following a series of extreme weather events which have resulted in some 240 landslips causing serious damage to the structural integrity of the road.


The closure applies to a 43km section of the road from Styx River Forest Way (Big Hill) to the Council boundary at Blackbird Flat. A 5km section of Lower Creek Road is also closed.


The only exceptions are for essential travel by local residents within these limits and for essential and emergency services.


The decision to close the road was made by the Traffic Authority Committee after extensive assessment of the road’s condition by independent geotechnical engineers.

Council has carried out necessary repairs to some of the worst affected sections of the road however, there is still considerable work which needs to be carried out to return the road to its pre-disaster condition.


Council has been granted funding to carry out an extensive program of recovery works and is currently working to prepare a tender to engage a contractor to deliver the main construction program.


In the second half of 2024 Council carried out a package of improvement works at Blackbird Flat, Flying Fox Cutting and a section of Big Hill.

Measures in place

  • Council has continued to monitor the condition of the road and inspections are carried out on a weekly basis and/or following rain and other weather events


  • In response to ongoing events which impact the road, Council engages geotechnical consultants to carry out further assessments to provide advice regarding the road status including hazards posed to motorists


  • A load limit of 10 tonne (gross vehicle mass) has been placed on the road for general essential travel. There are provisions for increased load limits up to 20 tonne (gvm) on three days a week subject to registration and induction conditions which must be met prior to travel


  • Council has installed call up signs for vehicles to call up to ensure other motorists are aware of oncoming traffic


  • Regular updates about the condition of the road are provided to the broader public, stakeholders, local residents, and essential and emergency services


  • A road traffic signage audit was completed by a certified traffic management company. Based on this, Council will be installing additional road advisory signs


  • Council will also be installing chicanes at either end of the project using fixed concrete barriers to control traffic movements and make it very clear that the road is closed to the public.

Road hazards

  • Limited line of site particularly on Big Hill and in the cuttings


  • Narrow road width


  • Soft edges and shoulder of road


  • Potential for both upslope and downslope slips particularly after rain


  • Limited phone reception – in the case of an emergency, there are very few locations that a phone call can be made.

Precautions

  • Do NOT stop in areas of potential rockfall which are designated by “Falling Rocks” signage


  • Avoid stopping in high-risk areas to reduce exposure to rockfall


  • Avoid travelling during and after rain, during high wind or morning and afternoon sun


  • Follow road signage and use UHF call ups on Channel 17


  • Drive to conditions and ensure you have sufficient stopping time if travelling in convoy with other vehicles.
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