Cape York Road Conditions

Submitted: Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 15:21
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I've had a look at the road condition seems a far amount of it is closed.

Does anyone have an idea if the roads (even just the major ones) are likely to be open by Easter (26th May)

cheers
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Reply By: Kanga1 - Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 15:24

Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 15:24
Brendon, I think Easter is 20 something of April this year??!!! Cheers, Kanga.
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Follow Up By: brend0n - Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 15:30

Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 15:30
yeah I meant April 22-25th
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Reply By: Crackles - Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 15:37

Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 15:37
Historically mid May is the usual time from when reliable travel starts to the Cape. I doubt anyone can forecast the weather for April at the moment.
Cheers Craig.............
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Follow Up By: brend0n - Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 15:41

Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 15:41
Yeah I'm aware of that..

If there weather remains nice... would the road crews get it open (as it is a large area to cover) or too busy mopping up the mess from the cyclone/flood,?
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Follow Up By: Mark S (cns) - Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 15:57

Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 15:57
The PDR should be open by end of April, and more often has been than hasn't in the past. If the weather is good in April, you should be right. They will do this road first before the others.

Roll of the dice at the moment, as the proper wet is a bit late this season. It's pretty wet up here at the moment.Lockhart River on the eastern Cape has had 380mm rain since 10-30pm last night, yet Coen, not far down the road has had only 8mm

Cheers
Mark
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Follow Up By: Crackles - Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 16:12

Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 16:12
"If their weather remains nice".........Yes it will be open. If it continues to rain into April, it may not. Often even in the wet the main routes are opened to 4x4's with good ground clearance under 4.5 tonne in the far north as long as the rivers have dropped.
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Reply By: arofs1 - Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 20:01

Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 20:01
We went up last year, which of course does not help you, but before we went I kept in touch with the Department of Primary Industries at Coen, as they have a fruit inspection station there and know exactly what is going on.

I also rang Lockhart River Police station for information about the Chilli Beach road. Normally I ring RACQ, but when I rang a couple of times last year before I went I found they knew nothing about the Cape. I don't know if I just got a couple of dills the both times I rang, but on both occasions I was completely disgusted with their knowledge and assistance about the cape roads, in fact their advice was completely wrong and one of the guys said he came from there.

You will enjoy your trip, but you have to be aware that while some of the gravel roads will be quite good, some will be shocking and it is a long way to the top. My only other suggestion is that you divide your trip up into detours on the way up and detours on the way back, because if you are like us once you turn for home you will be so sick of the rough roads and want to go straight home and not detour to your other unvisited locations. I will also add that I am an experienced rough road person with good vehicles, but the cape is a long way over some very rough roads. Having said that, some of the roads are quite good, particularly to Weipa, where I believe the mine puts a share in for the maintenance.

Brian DJ
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Reply By: Member - Duncs - Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 20:38

Friday, Feb 11, 2011 at 20:38
I can only speak from my own experience.

In 1998 people arrived at the tip on ANZAC Day. In 1999 I was in Cairns a week after that and the Archer was 7m above the causeway.

We were the second group to get to the tip that year, that was on the 25th of May.

What will happen this year is anyones guess. The wet does appear to be a bit late and there does seem to be a lot of low pressure systems still developing in that part of the world so I would guess Easter will be a bit too early for a reliable trip to the tip.

Duncs
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Reply By: Member - Kevin S (QLD) - Saturday, Feb 12, 2011 at 20:01

Saturday, Feb 12, 2011 at 20:01
It is my understanding that the shire council based in Cooktown is responsible for maintenance of roads on the Peninsular, so you may find this URL handy. A specific enquiery would probably get you an informed answer. The municipal authorities in the area are very aware of the value of tourism.

http://www.cooktownandcapeyork.com/cook/roads

Kevin
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