Latest news with #WaynePhillips
News.com.au
11 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
Dramatic footage captures moment Sea World team free entangled whale caught in net off Qld coast
The dramatic moment a whale entangled in fishing nets off the coast of Queensland was rescued has been caught on tape. The Sea World Rescue Team was dispatched after receiving reports from a ferry trawling near North Stradbroke Island, off the Queensland coast, that a whale had become entangled in buoys and ropes. Footage shows the 8m humpback whale showing obvious signs of distress as it thrashes and repeatedly breaches the water while rescuers deliberate on how to assist the creature. In the dramatic footage, the rescue team drives right up alongside the whale as they attempt to use hooks and other tools to dislodge the various pieces of equipment attached to it. Sea World Foundation Head of Marine Science Wayne Phillips said it was 'a privilege' to be at the scene when rescuers were able to free the enormous creature from its restraints. 'The cutting team did an amazing job releasing the whale as quickly as they could,' Mr Phillips said. 'Two simple cuts – there was one cut on some rope that was draped across the right side of the tail fluke, and then a final cut right at the tip of the left side of the tail fluke, and then the animal was free,' he said. Marine Mammal Specialist Benjamin Markham said seeing the whale happily swim off was 'incredible'. 'Seeing him swim off with his pecks nice and wide and his tail moving freely was very rewarding,' Mr Markham said. 'We did start to see some sort of infiltration on the right hand side of the tail fluke, where that rope was hanging out … I think we got it just in time. Any longer and we certainly would have seen a bit more damage.' The team has engaged in two 'mobile disentanglements' this migration season, and with more whales expected to head up the coast, Phillips says there is a high likelihood the team will encounter more creatures 'with gear on them'. 'Our rescue team remains on standby to assist.'
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Traffic patterns to change as ‘Rebuild I-39' construction enters Phase III
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois Department of Transportation hosted an open house meeting in Rockford to provide updates on the reconstruction of I-39. The meeting included displays, factsheets, and guidance on how to navigate the 'diverging diamond interchange' at Harrison Avenue, a system that requires drivers to switch from the right side of the road to the left, and back again. The Rebuild I-39 project is now in its third phase of construction, part of an effort to reduce congestion and create safer conditions for drivers at the interchange. Wayne Phillips, of Hutchison Engineering, said, 'Mid-to-late March, we'll be going into the next phase of this construction project and where we'll actually be crossing the traffic over, and that point we're asking for patience from the traveling public to assist us in getting through this, this next stage. At some point, we will have lane closures, and hopefully maybe not even full roadway closures, but definitely be lane closures.' The project is part of a $302 million dollar effort that is set to be completed by the end of 2027. It includes: I-39 at Harrison Avenue. This $35 million project will convert the interchange from a cloverleaf to a safer modern diverging-diamond design. Other improvements include replacing the I-39 bridges and expanding Harrison Avenue from South Mall Drive to Mill Road. The project starts in 2024 and ends in late 2025. I-39/Bypass U.S. 20 to Harrison Avenue. This $92.3 million project will expand the road from four to six lanes with an auxiliary lane. The project also will replace several bridges. Work is anticipated to begin in 2025 and wrap up by the end of 2027. Bypass U.S. 20 from Mill Road to the Kishwaukee River. This $21.5 million project includes expanding Bypass U.S. 20 from four to six lanes, improving the intersection with Mill Road and replacing the bridges crossing the Kishwaukee River. Work is expected to begin in 2025 and conclude in 2026. According to IDOT, 'The I-39 corridor in Rockford serves as a vital transportation link, facilitating the movement of goods, supporting industrial development, and contributing to the economic vitality of the region. Its intersection with I-90 creates a key interchange, connecting Rockford to national transportation networks and positioning the city as a significant transportation hub. ' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
