Thursday, 12 November, 2020
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‘The Show must go on’ in 2021... The Stanthorpe Show Society is determined to carry on an annual tradition despite COVID-19 challenges by being the first country Show of the year held for 2021, with volunteers declaring “Too right it’s going to happen!”. - FULL STORY ON PAGE 4.
More Gap works By Jeremy Sollars The latest phase of traffic delays through Cunningham’s Gap commenced this week and are expected to continue through until the second week of December. The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) says the delays are due to “survey work” being undertaken on the roadway at the Gap ahead of a “reconstruction project”, design for which is expected to be completed in 2021. But the department is remaining tightlipped about the full extent of reconstruction works needed at the Gap despite questions from the Free Times, saying “design” of the project is expected to be completed in 2021. What is known at this point in time is that
more delays are expected next year when extensive removal of unstable sections of the cliff face above the highway is expected to be carried out, potentially similar to blasting works which happened way back in 2010 to remove large areas of rock. Calls continue for a permanent solution for the highway through the Gap - which has been closed on repeated occasions due to rock-falls over the last decade and a half - but to date options such as a tunnel through the mountain or a concrete ‘cover’ over the highway remain off the table. The road closures have come at significant disruption and cost to the region’s freight operators, and to domestic travel, with the highway the prime connecting route between the Southern Downs and Granite Belt regions and the
metropolitan corner of South East Queensland. On Monday of this week TMR introduced “temporary restrictions” at Cunningham’s Gap, which a spokesman told the Free Times would “allow for investigation and survey works related to major future upgrades of the highway.” “Day-time restrictions will be in place between 9am and 3pm until (tomorrow) Friday, 13 November, 2020,” a spokesman told the Free Times. “Night restrictions will be in place between 6pm and 6am from Monday, 23 November, until Thursday, 10 December, 2020.”
will be stopped at the top and bot· Vehicles tom of Cunninghams Gap and escorted through by a pilot vehicle will be reduced to a single lane only · Travel with stop/slow traffic conditions · The speed limit will be reduced to 40km/h In addition the following restrictions will apply to “oversize” vehicles: Oversize loads wider than 3.5m (ground contact width) and 4m (load) will not be permitted through the site between 6am and 6pm Oversize loads wider than 4m (ground contact width) and 7m (load) will not be permitted through the site at any time Continued on page 3
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The spokesman said ongoing delays are likely to include: Possible delays between 45-60 minutes
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