Friday, Jul 22, 2011 at 11:29
Gday Bob,
There were no closed/detour pegs at either end at the start of June. Sounds like I might have visited these
places for the last time. Pity really when these areas have a significant recent history (with
explorers such as Giles/Maurice/Beadell) as
well as an amazing aboriginal history.
As you say, if the traveller misses the
intersection, after about 120km they will reach the Anne Beadell Hwy about 20k west of
Anne's Corner. That
intersection is not signposted either, so they will probably cross the Mt Davies Rd and end up in the middle of nowhere. I think its a serious situation when the BMR mining roads are twice as wide as the public roads and there are no signposts in such an isolated area. And having seen semis drive through this
intersection at 60-80kph, it has the potential to be a major disaster.
For the benefit of travellers who will be heading this way into the GVD, as
well as the map I've posted above, I'll put up some mileages for the turnoffs. I have tried to upload track files to the member fileswap area but it is no longer functioning.
So heading north from
Cook towards
Voakes Hill, zero your speedo at the
intersection with the Aboriginal Business Rd. As you head north, after about 10k there will be rainwater tanks on your right, then at 12k, a Terrex mining
camp. Continue north and at 24km you will be confronted by a
Y junction. You need to take the left
fork (the right
fork is the road that is to be closed). Then at the 48km mark (24k north of the
Y junction) heading north you will come across a 4-way
intersection - you must turn right (east). To go in any other direction will put you into
the desert along closed mining tracks. After turning right you travel another 18km and you'll come across the poorly signposted
intersection with the old road where you turn left and continue north as usual.
Cheers
Phil
FollowupID:
734284