THURSDAY
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2.50: That’s all from us at the moment, you can keep an eye on the flood impacts and road closures at Jen's rolling coverage of the Winter Floods here.
Keep sending your rainy-day pics in, we love to see them grace.ryan@fairfaxmedia.com.au
1.14pm: Here’s a lunchtime update of the roads
DUBBO: FLOODING. Newell Highway at Emile Seriser Bridge. Traffic affected in both directions. Avoid the area.
BOGAN: FLOODING. Exercise caution and allow extra travel time. Due to heavy rainfall across the shire all unsealed roads are currently closed. Call 6835 9000.
NARROMINE: FLOODING. Due to heavy rain in the region a number of roads are closed in the Narromine Shire Area. All unsealed roads within Narromine Shire are either closed or only open to vehicles under three tonnes. More information on 6889 9999.
COBAR: FLOODING. The following regional roads are closed due to flooding. Balowra Road Nymagee to Condobolin, Curranyalpa Road Darling River East, Whitbarrow Way, Nymagee to Hermidale, Mulya Road, Cobar to Louth, The Wool Track, Cobar to Belarabon, Glenwood Road, Nymagee to Gilgunnia, Fifty Two Mile Road, Barnato to Tilpa, The Wool Track, Belarabon to Ivanhoe. Call 6836 5888 for more information.
GILGANDRA: FLOODING. Castlereagh Highway 15km east of Gilgandra. Traffic affected in both areas. Reduce speed and exercise caution.
TOMINGLEY: FLOODING. Newell Highway near Tomingley Road. Traffic affected in both directions. Reduce speed and exercise caution. Traffic is alternating through the area using one lane.
COONAMBLE: FLOODING. Various Roads. Refer ti the council website for the latest information. More information 6827 1900.
11.25: Narromine News and Trangie Advocate’s Cassie Miller-Coen filmed this at Narromine’s Rotary Park earlier this morning.
10.15: Western Plains Council have released this information
Western Plains Regional Council advises the following traffic management plans are in place for the Dubbo CBD and main roads.
Bligh Street is closed from the intersection of Erskine Street through to the intersection with Wingewarra Street. Access to Bligh Street from Talbragar Street, Church Street and is also closed.
Pedestrian/Cycleway bridges on the Tracker Riley Cycleway are closed.
Troy Bridge Road is open
The Emille Seriser Bridge is open
The Muronbung to Goolma Road (Dubbo to Mudgee Road via the Golden Highway) is open
A Flood Warning has been issued for the Macquarie River with an expected peak at Dubbo of 8.0 metres by Thursday afternoon.
If the Emille Serisier Bridge is closed traffic will be diverted over the LH Ford Bridge, along Cobra Street through to Fitzroy Street to access the northern parts of the CBD and Dubbo.
9.50: Welcome back, there’s some big news about roads in the western region. So here’s what we have so far. Anyone driving in these areas should exercise caution and follow traffic commands.
DUBBO: Newell Highway at Emille Seniser Bridge FLOODING. Traffic affected in both areas. Motorists could use Fitzory Street, Mitchell Highway to rejoin the Newell. Use alternate route.
GILGANDRA: Castlereagh Highway 15kms east of Gilgandra. FLOODING. Traffic affected in both directions, reduce speed and exercise caution.
TOMINGLEY: Newell Highway near Tomingley Road. FLOODING, reduce speed limit and exercise cation. Traffic is alternating through the area using one lane.
NARROMINE: All unsealed roads within the Shire are closed or only open to vehicles under 3t until further notice. Council are asking drivers to exercise caution around the Shire. For more information call 6889 9999.
BOGAN: FLOODING around the Shire. The following roads are closed Glengariff Road, Kelly’s Road, Peisley Road to Pangee Road. More information call 6835 9000.
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5.28: Western Plains NSW have released this traffic release this afternoon.
Western Plains Regional Council advises significant traffic changes are expected Thursday 21 July 2016 following flood warnings issued by the SES which will potentially cause flooding to Bligh Street, the closure of the Emile Serisier Bridge as well as local roads in Wellington and the wider Western Plains Regional Council area.
A Flood Warning has been issued for the Macquarie River with an expected peak of 8.0 metres at Dubbo Thursday morning.
Western Plains Regional Council is working with the SES to prepare alternative routes and asks all motorists to observe directional signs and detours set up to divert traffic around closed roads.
In Dubbo it is expected that Bligh Street will be closed at the intersection of Erskine Street in the north through to the intersection with Macquarie Street in the south. Access to Bligh Street from Bultje Street, Wingewarra Street, Church Street and Talbragar Street will also be closed.
If the Macquarie River reaches the height predicted and the Emille Seriier Bridge is closed traffic will be diverted over the LH Ford Bridge, along Cobra Street through to Fitzroy Street to access the northern parts of the CBD.
Various local roads will be closed in order to facilitate heavy traffic along the main arterial roads.
In Wellington Council crews are also on standby to put in place local road diversions and to work with the State Emergency Services and Road and Maritime Services to arrange road closures and diversions as required.
Road closures will be reviewed as further information on flood conditions becomes available.
On Wednesday 20 July 2016 pedestrian and cycleway bridges on the Tracker Riley Cycleway were closed. These are the Yabang Gee Bridge on the lower part of Tamworth Street and the Shibble Bridge near Dundullimal Reserve.
Information on local roads controlled by the Western Plains Regional Council is available on Council’s website http://www.dubbo.nsw.gov.au/InformationandResources/road-closures
Other information is available from the Bureau of Meteorologywww.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings, RMS livetraffic www.Livetraffic.com and the SES www.ses.nsw.gov.au
4.22pm: A tweet from live traffic
And from BoM
3pm: An alert has been put out by the State Emergency Service
An average of 40 millimetres of rain has fallen during the past 24 hours to 11am today [20/07/16]. The rainfall is expected to cause minor flooding along the Bell River at Wellington later today. Minor flooding is expected along the Macquarie River at Dubbo this evening. At this stage it is not possible to predict the flood peak because of the uncertainty over how much more rain will fall.
Predicted River Heights: Wellington (Bell River) – exceed minor flood level (3.4 metres) Wednesday afternoon. Reach 5.0 metres early Thursday morning, with minor flooding Wellington (Macquarie River) – reach minor flood level (4.0 metres) early Thursday morning. Dubbo (Macquarie River) – exceed minor flood level (5.5 metres) Wednesday evening Reach 7.0 metres around midday Thursday with minor flooding Narromine – exceed minor flood level (5.5 metres) Thursday Reach 8.5 metres Friday, with minor flooding. Warren Town – exceed minor flood level (7.5 metres) Friday, Reach moderate flood level (8.5 metres) Saturday, with further rises possible.
If your property is impacted by floodwaters at the above heights the time to act is now. NSW SES urges motorists to take extreme care as there is water flowing across causeways and some local roads. Motorists are advised not to drive through floodwater as they may be deep and fast flowing and contain hidden snags and debris.
People working or camping along the Bell and Macquarie Rivers should continue to monitor river heights. Farmers and landholders are advised to relocate livestock, pumps and machinery to higher ground.
2.10pm: Latest update from Live Traffic
Narromine to Dubbo: Flooding, RMS and Emergency Services attending, exercise caution and reduce speed to 40km/h.
Tomingley to Dubbo: Southbound lanes are closed due to the flooding. Traffic is being merged into the northbound lanes.
Parkes to Peak Hill: Water on Road, local council attending, exercise caution.
Gilgandra: Flooding, traffic affected in both directions. Reduce speed and exercise caution. RMS attending.
1.42pm: A notice from the Western Plains Regional Council
Western Plains Regional Council wishes to advise all motorists to exercise caution with continued rain creating variable road conditions locally.
Wherever possible Council has erected advisory and warning signs in areas where water is over the road or other road hazards have been identified. However, the region is currently experiencing a significant rain event and road conditions can change unexpectedly.
In wet conditions motorists are asked to slow down, plan for additional travel time, obey all warning signs and directions and not drive through stormwaters or flooded water.
Hazardous road conditions including loose gravel, pot holes and water over roads can remain for some time following storm events and may recur with further rain.
For advice on road closures within the Western Plains Regional Council local government area, please contact council’s customer service officers on 6801 4000 (Dubbo) or 6840 1700 (Wellington).
For information on main roads please contact Roads and Maritime Services.
Major safety hazards can be reported to Council on 6801 4000.
12noon: A tree has fallen on the Mitchell Highway 10kms west of Narromine. Be cautious and be aware it’s affecting traffic in both directions.
11.34: The roads as currently reported by Live Traffic NSW
NARROMINE: These roads are closed; Obley Road, MR 572 Narromine to Eumungerie Rd, Dubbo-Collie Rd, Bulgandramine Rd, MR354 Tullamore to Narromine Rd, MR 89 Narromine to Tomingley Rd, Gundong Rd, Dubbo-Burroway Rd, MR 347D Trangie to Melrose Rd via Dandaloo, Belowrie Rd at the Momo Rd intersection. All unsealed roads within the Narromine Shire are either closed, or open only to vehicles under 3 tonnes until further notice when roads will be reviewed. Please refer to the council website for the latest information. More infomation: 02 6889 9999.
UNINCOPORATED: Exercise caution. These roads are closed: Silver City Highway Broken Hill to Tibooburra, The Cut Line, Mutawintji Road (open to 4WDs only), Mutawintji NP to White Cliffs is closed. A number of local closed, please check signage.
GILGANDRA: Water on roads, Newell Highway south of Gilgandra. Reduce speed an exercise caution.
DUBBO and NARROMINE: Flooding on the Mitchell Highway, affecting traffic in both directions. Stop slow traffic placement is 10kms east of Narromine. Exercise caution.
DUBBO and PARKES: Water on road on Newell Highway. Traffic affected in both directions, exercise caution.
COBAR: Roads closed; Balowra Road (Nymagee to Condobolin), Curranyalpa Road (Darling River to East), Mulya Road (Cobar to Louth), The Wool Track (Cobar to Belarabon), Glenwood Road (Nymagee to Gilgunnia), Fifty Two Mile Road (Barnato to Tilpa), The Wool Track (Belarabon Ivanhoe). Many local roads are also closed get more information on 6836 5888.
TOMINGLEY: Flooding on Newell Highway, traffic being managed into northbound lanes. Both lanes affected. Exercise caution.
COONAMBLE: Shire council warns some roads are flooded. Call 6827 1900 for more information.
BOGAN SHIRE: Advice: exercise caution and allow extra travel time. The following roads are closed: Glegariff Road, Kelly’s Road, Peisley Road from Tottenham Road to Pangee Road. Call 6835 9000 for more information.
EARLIER
Narromine: Use caution when driving along the Dubbo to Narromine road this morning.Live Traffic NSW has asked motorists to be careful of flooding water. The Newell Highway near Tomingley is closed in one lane. Traffic is being navigated into the northbound lane. All unsealed roads have been closed to vehicles over 3t by council. Belowrie Rd at the Momo Rd intersection
Bogan: