Oodnadatta Track Signs

oooh, that is annoying !
We had it too coming out of BV last year, the big sign said closed to Mungerannie !
We checked outback roads page online, says open.
We call roads maintenance to confirm, they say open.
So we go.

We found out once, that those big signs are controlled form Adelaide electronically, using data from numerous properties in the area, they use rainfall, and other weather conds like wind speed, temps, to decide to close and reopen those major tracks.

Another time, road care to Mung, open all vehicles after there to Marree.
The lower section was absolutely terrible, should have been closed for sure, but we had to push through once down it.
One double B tanker truck bogged in the middle of the tk, there were vehicles coming up it all slid off the road, tilt tray coming up the track sideways to rescue them, an army recovery vehicle too coming up to help too.

Then we get to Marree, the short section there to Lyndhurst is closed, BOrefield closed, they might be open tomorrow, or maybe 3 days says the pub, all you can do is watch the big signs for change.
So we take a 500+ detour to get home on the open William Ck - Coober Pedy rote, and it is absolutely atrousious, many sections from Pained hills to Coober under water, deep and very wide mud sections, had issues with the vehicle electronics, epic trip home next 30 hours.

I thought to myself, the Lyndhurst road or even borefield would have been far better, but rules are rules on these roads, so nothing you can do.

we had same thing in June of this year but was able to call to find road was open .

We were OK as the BV end said it was open all the way and I always take a photo of the sign when we are leaving.

I also usually have it on my dash cam which I aim at the sign while a take a photo so if anyone wants to argue I can show it was open when I left.

Mind you, sometimes I need the headlights and the flash working to get a decent photo.

If it hasn't rained overnight there is no reason to change so off we go.

I did get chased by the rain once on the Oodnadatta track, every time I stopped for a photo after William Creek it started to rain on me so I went down Borefield Track and when I got to Roxby Downs it absolutely poured down.

All the dirt roads were closed for 3 days, bit lucky there :)

Of course this is the best option if unsure, although the signs should be correct of course.
Marree is an issue with no coverage, all you can do there is hope the pub (getting asked a million times a day !) will patiently check the outback road conditions page for you.

Marree should have cellphone coverage in Q1-2018.

For those not familar with the rollout of phase 2 of the blackspot program, this link shows the Optus sites (except Oodnadatta, which has been operating for 18 months or so as their small cell pilot).

The old mantra "it's Telstra or nothing in the bush" is being eroded quite quickly.

(I have both Optus and Telstra when travelling, and a satphone.)

That would be handy to keep an eye on the DPTI website page, but unlikely anyone but Telstra will ever have as good a mobile gsm coverage in general, they will keep their monopoly if possible.

Was there supposed to be a link above Zippo ?
To Optus page ?

Yep, the old problem of hitting "send" before checking thoroughly, just like emails without the attachment(s).

http://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobile/network/mobile-black-spot-program

Zoom and explore.

Hi Dion

There is not phone coverage in all locations for these signs, which can cause big problems, as we know not everyone carries a Satelite phone, thus rendering their so called phone numbers useless. The reason for this post is to show just how unreliable the accuracy of these signs can and has been, and someone from the DPTI should take the resonsiblitity to make sure of their accuracy.

Two such locations that I personally know that fit my situation are Mungerannie, with no phone coverage on the Birdsville Track and access to the Painted Desert and further out to the Oodnadatta Track around 5 kilometres south of Cadney Park on the main Stuart Highway.

I know that there are more such places that we have seen over the years, but can not think of them at the moment.




Cheers




Stephen

May be an idea to programme the road conds # into your sat phone directory (along with others like RFDS etc).