Latest news with #MainRoadsWA
West Australian
5 days ago
- Automotive
- West Australian
Potentially contaminated water burst closes Albany Highway between Blackwood and Pensioner roads
A stretch of Albany Highway has been closed after a water main burst near a decommissioned fuel tank, spreading potentially contaminated liquid on the road. According to DFES, the leak was reported in Kojonup — about 250km south of Perth — just before 10am on Sunday and isolated just after 10.30am. Main Roads WA has closed a stretch of road in the town on Albany Highway between Blackwood and Pensioner roads. Two DFES crews went to the site with utilities services also on scene trying to fix the burst. According to DFES spokesperson, the water main burst near a reportedly decommissioned underground fuel tank. While the tank was shown to be empty through the use of a dipstick, concerns of residue mixing with the water remained. It is understood local government officials have been contacted and are testing the water for contamination. About 11.30am, crews reported the smell and visuals of fuel had significantly reduced. Albany Highway is the main route between Perth and Albany and the closure comes as scores of families are expected to travel between the two for the WA Day long weekend.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Burst water main closes stretch of Albany Highway
A stretch of Albany Highway has been closed after a water main burst near a decommissioned fuel tank, spreading potentially contaminated liquid on the road. According to DFES, the leak was reported in Kojonup — about 250km south of Perth — just before 10am on Sunday and isolated just after 10.30am. Main Roads WA has closed a stretch of road in the town on Albany Highway between Blackwood and Pensioner roads. Two DFES crews went to the site with utilities services also on scene trying to fix the burst. According to DFES spokesperson, the water main burst near a reportedly decommissioned underground fuel tank. While the tank was shown to be empty through the use of a dipstick, concerns of residue mixing with the water remained. It is understood local government officials have been contacted and are testing the water for contamination. About 11.30am, crews reported the smell and visuals of fuel had significantly reduced. Albany Highway is the main route between Perth and Albany and the closure comes as scores of families are expected to travel between the two for the WA Day long weekend.
West Australian
28-05-2025
- Climate
- West Australian
Gibb River Road flooded: Tourists embrace adventure amid Kimberley rain deluge
Tourists are hunkering down along the Gibb River Road after unseasonal heavy rainfall of up to 130mm over two days closed part of the popular dirt track. On Wednesday Main Roads WA advised the Gibb River Road between Mount Barnett and Kalumburu Road was closed because of flooding, making several crossings impassable. Meanwhile the section between the Kalumburu turn-off and Pentecost River was open, with caution for four-wheel-drives, buses and trucks up to 15 tonnes, with some water crossings reaching levels of around 300mm. Roads have been closed across the East Kimberley, including Parry Creek, Valentine Spring, King River and Kalumburu roads. At Kununurra, the Ivanhoe Crossing is also closed as water levels are flowing above the safety markers. The Bureau of Meteorology released the final floodwatch for the West Kimberley, Fitzroy River and desert catchments around midday on Wednesday. Widespread rainfalls of 80mm-100mm were recorded in the 48 hours to 9am on Wednesday, with some isolated totals reaching up to 130 mm. The rain band which passed through the Kimberley has now cleared. At Mt Barnett Roadhouse, about 20 travellers decided to camp and wait it out for the few days it would take for the Gibb River Road to dry out. Mt Barnett Roadhouse manager Matt Hawke said there was a lot of camaraderie among the travellers in the campground. 'Everyone seems more than happy to go with the flow and enjoy that element of adventure,' he said. 'They went knowing that they were going to be in there for a few days and were pretty calm about it. A group of girls have just walked up from the campground, 7km in the mud, to come buy some sausage rolls, who are enjoying themselves,' he said. Mr Hawke said there was only one report of a tourist bus getting bogged, but besides that it was business as usual — even if it was quiet for this time of year. 'The lights are on and we're still here for everyone, making all our handmade food and fresh-baked sourdough bread and everything. So the people that can get to us are having a great time,' he said. Mr Hawke said he was advising tourists who rang about the road conditions to 'sit tight until it dries out.' 'Wherever you are, enjoy the peace and quiet,' he said. For the most up-to-date road advice, go to the Main Roads WA Travel Map at .
ABC News
19-05-2025
- ABC News
Main Roads WA cops criticism after rest stop near Albany bulldozed
The West Australian roads authority has drawn fire for bulldozing and closing off a rest stop used as a dumping ground for illegal campers. The Marbelup rest stop, about halfway between Albany and Denmark on the south coast, was left looking like a landfill after the recent school holidays due to illegal campers and dumping. Rubbish left in the area included piles of razors, food waste and an excrement-filled portable toilet. Main Roads WA, which manages the South Coast Highway and its rest stops, initially suggested people misusing the rest area would be tracked down and fined. But travellers in the area this week found the rest stop had been bulldozed and all access blocked. Main Roads Great Southern regional director Andrew Duffield said ongoing misuse of the site and limited resources led to the closure. "The decision there was based on our inability to be able to control people doing all the things it was suggested they were doing in there," he said. Mr Duffield said the department had been reviewing rest stops on the network and chose to revegetate the site due to its proximity to the City of Albany. "People could come into Albany if they're heading this way — we don't see that as a fatigue risk," he said. The Marbelup rest area was the third stop Main Roads had closed in the past two years, but Mr Duffield said the department was reinvesting resources into improving other rest stops on the network. Main Roads was asked how many rest stops across the WA network it had closed and upgraded in the last two years, but was yet to respond. The closure has angered some road users, including the Australian Caravan Club, which said the decision was "disappointing" and posed safety issues for all road users. Deputy chair Tom Smith said alternative management options should have been explored before the site was closed. "Quite a high percentage of our members prefer to use these facilities when they're travelling to save money," he said. "It's not the RV or the caravan that creates the mess, because a lot of them have got their facilities on board. Mr Smith said regardless of its proximity to town, the closure posed a safety risk. "Fatigue management is very important to people, especially as you get older, not just for the grey nomads but for anybody driving on the road," he said. Western Roads Federation chief executive Cam Dumesny said the closure of the rest area highlighted a worrying trend. "There's actually not enough of them as it is across the state," he said. "We need those rest areas so the drivers can pull in, have their fatigue brakes, which are legally mandated to do — so losing rest areas when we've already got a shortage is certainly a major impact." Mr Dumesny said the federation and Livestock and Rural Transport Association had lobbied the government to develop and upgrade heavy vehicle rest areas across the state. "We all want these rest areas when driving a car or a caravan or a truck," he said. "We've all got a social responsibility, like a BBQ at a community park — we use it, we clean it afterwards so that the next person can use it. "That element seems to be missing."
Perth Now
15-05-2025
- Perth Now
Pedestrian hit by car, major highway closed
Police are investigating a serious crash after a pedestrian was hit by a car on Canning Highway. Credit: Main Roads WA Jessica Evensen The West Australian Police are investigating a serious crash after a pedestrian was hit by a car on Canning Highway. Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports a car collided with a pedestrian near Ryrie Avenue on Canning Highway, Como, about 9.40am on Thursday. The pedestrian sustained critical injuries. Canning Highway has been closed in both directions between Thelma Street and Preston Road as investigators probe the scene. More to come.
