As flooding from severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia begins to recede, the key transport route through Western Australia’s north, the Great Northern Highway, may reopen to general traffic by the weekend. This vital highway is the only link connecting the Kimberley region with the southern parts of the state.
Closed since last Thursday, the highway has been a crucial barrier preventing essential supplies from reaching towns north of Port Hedland, including Broome and Kununurra. Record rainfall brought by Cyclone Zelia submerged much of the road, prompting authorities to spend the week assessing the damage.
With no alternative routes available, supermarket shelves in the Kimberley have faced significant shortages, leading Coles and Woolworths in Broome to impose temporary purchase limits. “What we saw last week is some people panic buying, which took one of the supermarkets by surprise,” noted Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson.
To alleviate the situation, Main Roads has been issuing permits for 53-metre road trains to traverse a lengthy 6,260-kilometre route through South Australia and the Northern Territory, entering the Kimberley from the north. Additionally, a convoy of trucks is scheduled for an escorted journey from Port Hedland to Broome on Thursday.
Although the highway remains closed to general traffic, Main Roads is optimistic about reopening the stretch between Port Hedland and Broome under specific conditions this weekend. Minister Dawson indicated that safety escorts would likely be implemented due to significant damage along the road.
“There is substantial damage on the road,” he said. “If and when it opens, it will probably be restricted to daylight hours initially to ensure safety.”
Main Roads spokesman Dean Roberts highlighted the highway’s importance, noting that around 10,000 vehicles, including 400 trucks, travel this route daily. Spanning over 3,000 kilometres, the Great Northern Highway is the longest in Australia and serves as a critical freight link for the region.
Roberts reassured that the highway is “relatively unscathed” overall, but specific areas, particularly east of Port Hedland where the De Grey River experienced major flooding, require repairs. “We’ve had some bitumen stripping, shoulder scouring, and general debris that needs cleaning up before we can safely reopen the road,” he stated.
As authorities continue their efforts to restore access, the reopening of the Great Northern Highway will be a significant relief for communities in the Kimberley, eager for the return of essential supplies and services.
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