Kings Highway closed at Pooh Corner following massive landslide

HenryBG said :

Cheap said :

Doesn’t seem very safe to stand right next to the landslide

Not very logical.
This unstable bit of ground has found a new and more stable configuration. By definition, this spot is safer than many other spots with instability not yet sufficient to trigger a slide.
Sadly, we see your sort of logic employed all the time by bureaucratic decision-makers.

The “shut the gate after the horse has bolted” cliche was invented to describe this (fairly dim) approach to risk management.

Yes, because the landslides in that part of the country are very efficient, with every possible rock having fallen to its lowest possible energy state at the time of the slide. There is zero chance of a small rock rolling down and hitting he guy in the head.

goggles13 said :

SnapperJack said :

The good thing about this is thinking about all those pubes who took flexidays and leave on Monday and Tuesday hoping to have an extended long weekend at the coast.

Don’tcha just love the RTA saying it will take three days to reopen the highway? Maybe the shinybums will take more leave on Thursday and Friday. Perhaps they should stay on holiday permanently. Nobody will notice the difference.

is it really necessary to have a dig at public servants?
.

Yes.

And next time he’s thrown in a cell in Bali after a drunken spat with a member of the local constabulary, he will have another dig at how long it takes the public servants at DFAT to save his bacon.

SnapperJack said :

The good thing about this is thinking about all those pubes who took flexidays and leave on Monday and Tuesday hoping to have an extended long weekend at the coast.

Don’tcha just love the RTA saying it will take three days to reopen the highway? Maybe the shinybums will take more leave on Thursday and Friday. Perhaps they should stay on holiday permanently. Nobody will notice the difference.

is it really necessary to have a dig at public servants?

I suspect that people in the private sector may also turn a mid-week public holiday into a long weekend.

IrishPete said :

Canberras Times now reporting that Aarluen Road is also closed in both directions:

I travelled up the Araluen Rd yesterday and it was fairly degraded. There were many places with water over the road and many big 4wds travelling way too fast for the conditions chewing up the road. Noticably, many of them had ACT plates. In a couple of areas the road had subsided, making it virtually impossible for one car to pass another as the road was barely wide enough.

There were also quite a number of ACT falcons pulling boats and trailers down the road, which no doubt would have been fun when they came across another vehicle in the unpassable areas and no doubt contributed to the road being closed.

poetix said :

BiffLoman said :

I’ve always wondered whether Nelligen is pronounced with a hard or soft ‘g’. Many thanks.

It’s pronounced with a hard ‘g’. That’s how the locals in the Steampacket say it.

Thanks, poetix.

Interesting that the landslip has cut off the road in that exact spot – because of course the Pooh Corner “grotto” is part of an underground tunnel that was to be blown up and block the Japanese if they headed up from the coast toward Canberra …

Cheap said :

Doesn’t seem very safe to stand right next to the landslide

Not very logical.
This unstable bit of ground has found a new and more stable configuration. By definition, this spot is safer than many other spots with instability not yet sufficient to trigger a slide.
Sadly, we see your sort of logic employed all the time by bureaucratic decision-makers.

The “shut the gate after the horse has bolted” cliche was invented to describe this (fairly dim) approach to risk management.

Cheap said :

Doesn’t seem very safe to stand right next to the landslide

with no footwear or any other protective clothing…

IP

Canberras Times now reporting that Aarluen Road is also closed in both directions: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/kings-hwy-landslide-forces-canberrans-to-change-plans-20120421-1xece.html

IP

BiffLoman said :

I’ve always wondered whether Nelligen is pronounced with a hard or soft ‘g’. Many thanks.

It’s pronounced with a hard ‘g’. That’s how the locals in the Steampacket say it.

The good thing about this is thinking about all those pubes who took flexidays and leave on Monday and Tuesday hoping to have an extended long weekend at the coast.

Don’tcha just love the RTA saying it will take three days to reopen the highway? Maybe the shinybums will take more leave on Thursday and Friday. Perhaps they should stay on holiday permanently. Nobody will notice the difference.

I’ve always wondered whether Nelligen is pronounced with a hard or soft ‘g’. Many thanks.

Doesn’t seem very safe to stand right next to the landslide

and with the main bridge into Captains Flat closed to vehicles over 5T, because it’s a bit fragile at the moment, we’re probably not the best detour either. If you want to use the Araluen Road, quicker go to Braidwood on the highway, and to Araluen on sealed roads, rather than via Captains Flat which has lots of unsealed roads, and I’m not sure of the condition of the Majors Creek Mountain Road, which was closed a month or so ago, from (wait for it) landslide…

IP

And the ABC News does a superb job – NOT. Although ABC News advises me that TV and radio refer to this event there is absolutely nothing on the news website. I am advised that there is no producer available and no ability to fix. Reminds me of the time when the Barton Highway was closed for three hours including peak time on a Friday night due a major accident and the only news I could find was that two ladies in Deakin had been in a minor accident and taken to Canberra Hospital for checking.

Of course other Canberra news sources also suck – I have had the Canberra Times report on another accident in the PRINT edition and nothing on their web site. Not this time though – getting better?

We drove down Brown mountain last night. Totally clear, apart from an old granny driviving down it at 3 kph! Kil,, kill,, kill!!!!

Yesterday afternoon we came to Jervis Bay via Tarago, then going through Nerriga. The Shoalhaven was pretty high at the crossing (the car behind us stopped to see if we got through first before they started) and turning ont the road that goes through Nerriga there was a lot of traffic – at the turn-off turning right onto the Princes highway from the 9km dirt road bit, the line of cars was 1km – would be nice if they had temporary traffic lights as you are turning right into a 100km zone and there is no turning lane.

johnboy said :

brown mountain is open again, but not sure you’d trust it until things dry out a bit.

Nerriga Road has 18km unsealed still. In these conditions I’d not recommend it to the inexperienced.

If you go Bungendore/Tarago/Nerriga there is only about 3km of dirt road which has been graded to perfection ready for sealing last time I went through.

As for the Araluen Rd, that used to be the Clyde alternative before the Nerriga Rd had $80million spent on it. I grew up down there (and learnt to drive on that road) and whenever the Clyde got closed due to accident you would have a steady stream in both directions. 20kph may be a bit overcautious, you just need to keep left and slow down a bit for the really blind corners. Our cars were always 2wd vans and handled the 50km of dirt in about 45 mins no worries. Might be a bit more traffic this weekend though.

EvanJames said :

Is Brown Mountain still closed? RTA thing seems to suggest it isn’t. The crazed Canberra drivers will NOT like the Nerriga Route, I think part of it still has (gasp) DIRT! And everyone knows, these days you can’t drive on DIRT unless you have a 4WD.

But taking the 4wd on the dirt might make it all mucky

poetix said :

vulpior said :

I know that when I was first here on holiday in 1996 we took the Kings Highway down to the Bay, but on the way back we drove south towards Moruya and then via Araluen. It’s certainly not very obvious as a route if you look high level at Google Maps, and I remember it was certainly not sealed.

Most is still unsealed. There are currently parts where water runs over the road to near the top of your wheels. Any more rain and it could become too dangerous. There could well be a rock-slide, or a tree falling. And as p1 pointed out, it is is very narrow. There is sometimes a sheer drop from the edge of this narrow road.

But if you put on fake American red-neck voices and don’t mind the trip to the coast taking about twice as long as normal, it’s just lovely.

I love that road. But I have to drive 20kph the whole way just to stay on the road and be prepared for the locals in their 4WDs coming round the bends. And that’s when it’s dry! I wouldn’t attempt it in the wet, I think.

Last time I drove that road I met some locals who were convinced I was lost and kept trying to redirect me to the highway. I can understand why. It’s not a shortcut if you drive an Astra. But so pretty!

johnboy said :

brown mountain is open again, but not sure you’d trust it until things dry out a bit.

Nerriga Road has 18km unsealed still. In these conditions I’d not recommend it to the inexperienced.

Brown Mountain was fine last weekend. Not sure whether the rain during the week has changed that, but we had a beautiful drive from Canberra to Bega last Sunday.

vulpior said :

I know that when I was first here on holiday in 1996 we took the Kings Highway down to the Bay, but on the way back we drove south towards Moruya and then via Araluen. It’s certainly not very obvious as a route if you look high level at Google Maps, and I remember it was certainly not sealed.

Most is still unsealed. There are currently parts where water runs over the road to near the top of your wheels. Any more rain and it could become too dangerous. There could well be a rock-slide, or a tree falling. And as p1 pointed out, it is is very narrow. There is sometimes a sheer drop from the edge of this narrow road.

But if you put on fake American red-neck voices and don’t mind the trip to the coast taking about twice as long as normal, it’s just lovely.

aussielyn said :

Any news about Pooh Bear himself. Is he OK?
Is he injured & trapped inside his cave, dare I say it, entombed?

Shhhhh……… if we listen carefully, we might hear him tapping out an SOS on all those empty Bundy bottles.

Araluen Rd, I forgot about that. Evil RTA people at Braidwood could have some fun pointing their detour signs right, rather than left to Nerriga! Imagine the crazed ACT loons being confronted with that, oh my. Or better still, diverting them as they exit Quangers, via Captains Flat.

I know that when I was first here on holiday in 1996 we took the Kings Highway down to the Bay, but on the way back we drove south towards Moruya and then via Araluen. It’s certainly not very obvious as a route if you look high level at Google Maps, and I remember it was certainly not sealed.

poetix said :

Araluen Road is able to be driven in a rear wheel drive car. Rough, wet and scary, and Mr Poetix nearly soiled himself, but it can be done. Do not try it at night though.

It takes forever, too.

It gets pretty slow with all the turns to follow the river, and isn’t quick. Take it easy on the bends – remember there may be someone coming the other way…

Araluen Road is able to be driven in a rear wheel drive car. Rough, wet and scary, and Mr Poetix nearly soiled himself, but it can be done. Do not try it at night though.

It takes forever, too.

Good thing that wire mesh was there to stop it.

Any news about Pooh Bear himself. Is he OK?
Is he injured & trapped inside his cave, dare I say it, entombed?

Can always go via Moss Vale/Kangaroo Valley if you are not heading somewhere on the far south coast.

I drove past on Thursday and noticed a minor slip. Didn’t think there had been enough rain to cause a major slip, but maybe it has all accumulated over the past few months and made the ground unstable.

Does anyone know what the Murrays service to/from the coast will be doing? Running/not running, and if running, what route?

johnboy said :

Nerriga Road has 18km unsealed still. In these conditions I’d not recommend it to the inexperienced.

It saddens me that many of the drivers on out roads might be sufficiently poor at operating a motor vehicle that they cannot, will not, or should not consider attempting 18km of unsealed road.

Having said that, I am happier the less other people are on a road with me, so would like to suggest a few other roads that could be converted to dirt.

johnboy said :

Nerriga Road has 18km unsealed still. In these conditions I’d not recommend it to the inexperienced.

There’s two things you need to remember when you drive on difficult roads:
1) Go slowly – slow enough that you can comfortably stop well within sight.
2) If traffic builds up behind you, pull over and let them go.

Obviously use gentle control inputs to reduce the risk of sliding.

Gungahlin Al said :

johnboy said :

floods, earthquakes, fog, now cut off from The Bay.

Surely the zombie apocalypse is next?

Connect the dots – this WAS the earthquake. You all thought you got off scott-free, but now your beach weekend is tantalisingly out of reach. It’s God’s way of punishing us all for turning out in such huge numbers to see that pagan Richard Dawkins.

It’s most likely the last Indian Summer warm weekend, too. Anzac day sees the colder air arrive, bringing us to more seasonably-appropriate temperatures.

johnboy said :

Nerriga Road has 18km unsealed still. In these conditions I’d not recommend it to the inexperienced.

This should be good. Might be worth grabbing a deck chair and esky and heading off to watch the fun!

I was overtaken by a local in an Excel on the dirt bit many years ago, he was absolutely caning along. I was impressed.

johnboy said :

floods, earthquakes, fog, now cut off from The Bay.

Surely the zombie apocalypse is next?

Connect the dots – this WAS the earthquake. You all thought you got off scott-free, but now your beach weekend is tantalisingly out of reach. It’s God’s way of punishing us all for turning out in such huge numbers to see that pagan Richard Dawkins.

With the Brown Mountain pass also closed isn’t it about time the NSW grubbymint think about at least ONE reliable highway down the mountain?

Is Brown Mountain still closed? RTA thing seems to suggest it isn’t. The crazed Canberra drivers will NOT like the Nerriga Route, I think part of it still has (gasp) DIRT! And everyone knows, these days you can’t drive on DIRT unless you have a 4WD.

i have a photo of the landslide but not sure how to post it?

Gee, the NSW RMS is now officially calling the area Pooh Bear’s Corner.

I always thought that was just a nickname used by holidaying public servants from Canberra.

Queensland had a landslide recently too, but they didn’t shut it down…

Going through Nerriga only adds 30km to a trip to Ulladulla (considerably more to the Bay though….

The Very Serious Issue™ that you haven’t addressed though JB, is – Did Pooh Bears Cave survive the landslip??!!

AGGH!!! THE ZOMBIES!!!!

http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/wheatus-will-tour-australia-in-2012/

floods, earthquakes, fog, now cut off from The Bay.

Surely the zombie apocalypse is next?

oh d-d-d-dear.