Works hold up Easter traffic
LONG delays for people travelling home from Easter school holidays are expected over the weekend with reports of one trip from Tannum Sands to Bray Park this week taking one motorist 9 1/2 hours this week.
Allan Johnson, from Tannum Sands, said one of his relatives drove home to Brisbane the other day and it took them 9 1/2 hours.
He said he wasn't surprised to hear this as it took him 3 1/2 hours to get from Tannum Sands to Marmor on Wednesday. The reason, he says, is the delays at roadworks along the Bruce Hwy and really slow drivers.
Yesterday, it took Mr Johnson just one hour and 10 minutes to do the same trip.
The delays didn't bother backpackers Carmel Pack, Anne Green, Grainne Sweeney and Laura Cullen.
The group set off from Airlie Beach yesterday and had stopped at Marmor petrol station by 3pm, with their final destination being 1770. The girls said they factored in delays from roadworks when calculating trip times.
"The most we were held up was 10 minutes," Miss Cullen said.
Others travelling north from Gladstone to Rockhampton said yesterday's traffic delays weren't too bad, with only one roadworks stop - a 10-minute delay.
A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said there were 39 work TMR sites delivering critical upgrades, reconstruction and maintenance on the Bruce Hwy, between Brisbane and Cairns.
"Bruce Highway work sites were closed over the recent Easter long-weekend, but projects have returned to full operation this weekend," he said.
"Motorists on the Bruce Highway can expect minor delays at work sites along with speed and lane restrictions.
"Motorists need to understand that delays will be inevitable when delivering such a broad scope of works and are advised to allow extra time when planning their travel."
Rockhampton traffic Inspector Mike Curtin said police would have a high-profile presence on the roads over the weekend as part of the Easter road safety campaign, including police vehicles, speed cameras, unmarked police vehicles and unmarked speed cameras.
Roadworks sites
Broad St (Bruce Hwy) - Sarina, Mackay/Whitsunday
Broadsound Rd - Ooralea, Mackay/Whitsunday
Bruce Hwy - Bauple, Wide Bay/Burnett
Bruce Hwy - Benaraby, Fitzroy
,Bruce Hwy - Cherwell, Wide Bay/Burnett
Bruce Hwy (Roe St) - Miriam Vale, Fitzroy
Bruce Hwy - St Lawrence, Mackay/Whitsunday
Bruce Hwy - Tiaro, Wide Bay/Burnett
Bruce Hwy - Torbanlea, Wide Bay/Burnett
Bruce Hwy - Traveston, Wide Bay/Burnett
Bruce Hwy - Traveston, Wide Bay/Burnett
