DELIVERY vans were stranded, trucks grounded to a halt, so too the postmen in many parts as yesterday’s snow flurry played havoc on the region’s road network.
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For the first time in decades, authorities were forced to shut a 170km stretch of the New England Highway between Bendemeer and Glen Innes, with motorists forced to turn around or pull up stumps on the side of the road from the early hours of the morning.
For much of the day, RMS crews and police monitored the conditions of the road which was not declared safe until about 2pm.
“The decision was made to close the road due to the hazards from ice and snow on the road and the inclement weather,” New England Inspector Chris McKinnon told The Leader. “And the decision to shut that length of the road was fairly indicative of the storm that passed over the New England and the amount of snow that fell.”
In fact, the Gwydir Highway was shut near Glen Innes, along with the Oxley Highway from Bendemeer through Walcha to Gingers Creek and the Thunderbolts Way from Gloucester to Walcha because of the hazardous conditions.
Roads around Niangala, Nowendoc and Hanging Rock, as well as the Port Stephens Cutting were also shut down.
Despite two rollovers near Emmaville and Black Mountain, the majority of motorists obeyed the road closed signs.
“We didn’t have any major difficulties,” Inspector McKinnon said.
“I think most people understood the dangers involved in driving in these conditions and certainly heeded the directions of council, police and RMS staff as well as SES.”
Last night, the RMS said Thunderbolts Way would remain closed between Gloucester and Walcha because of ice on the road, and crews would inspect it again this morning .
