General News
28 January, 2024
Potholes and truck crash caused headaches on highway detour
There were a number of headaches for drivers when the Newell Highway was closed at the level railway crossing for maintenance.
Closed from Tuesday, January 16, highway traffic was diverted via Hargraves Lane. On Wednesday, January 17 Gilgandra experienced a heavy rain shower and the increased traffic on the intersection of the detour and the Oxley Highway caused a large amount of damage to the road surface.
Then on the morning of Friday, January 19, a cattle truck travelling along the Hargraves Lane detour rolled its trailer, causing long delays. No-one was injured as a result of the accident. Traffic was further diverted via various detours for a few hours.
The trailer was quickly recovered by local emergency services, restoring the route. A traffic director was stationed at the corner of Hargraves Lane and the Oxley Highway for the days following the crash.
Potholes and poor road conditions remain along Hargraves Lane. Council responded quickly however, by filling the worst of it to maintain access and safety of the detour.
Recent heavy rainfall has only made the task more difficult, further washing away part of the road surface.
Maintenance and upgrades on the Newell Highway level railway crossing were completed on Monday, January 22 in the early afternoon, ahead of advertised schedule. The Newell Highway was re-opened from Tuesday, January 23, 2023.
