HIGHWAY FLOODED

CYCLONE OWEN EFFECT:

THE Far North dodged a bullet when Cyclone Owen swerved south at the weekend, but heavy rainfall still cut the region’s main road link.

Road crews were waiting to give large sections of the Bruce Highway around Ingham the green light to open after rain dumped by ex-Cyclone Owen triggered widespread flash flooding.

The Seymour River, north of Ingham, broke its banks on Saturday after the wettest day on record was recorded at the nearby town of Halifax.

A total of 681mm was collected in the gauge, the largest single 24-hour total since 1900.

Jessie Abernethy, of the BIG4 Cairns Coconut Resort, said the severing of the highway was causing headaches for travellers headed north from Townsville.

“We have had a lot of phone calls about it and had to move bookings so it has affected us,” she said.

Ms Abernethy said although the Cairns region may have escaped the direct impact of Cyclone Owen, accessibility and cancellations ahead of the storm have impacted tourismbased business.

“People flying up have cancelled and changed dates. They can only go on what they see on the news and internet,” she said.

“If you book on specials there are no cancellations or refunds. We feel terrible. It is so sad because it is not our fault, we can’t help what has happened.”

The Department of Traffic and Main Roads (TMR) told the Cairns Post as soon as the floodwater affecting four sections of the Bruce Highway has receded and the road was declared safe the highway would be open.

The department hoped the road would be open today but would not speculate on when floodwaters would recede.

RACQ spokeswoman Clare Hunter advised motorists not to set out on journeys until the road was open.

“Check it beforehand and make a determination and delay your travel plans if there is still water on the road,” she said.

She said road conditions could change very quickly and water over the road often hid damage to the road surface.

“We are saying not to drive through floodwaters,” she said.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a zero chance of rain today, which will increase to 20 per cent tomorrow and 70 per cent on Wednesday.

Picture: ANDREW KACIMAIWAI WAITING GAME: Southward bound traffic waits to use the central, and higher, portion of the Townsville Rd/Bruce Highway at Ingham.

Picture: CAMERON BATES UNDERWATER: Four Mile Road near Ingham.

Picture: PETER WALLIS UPDATE: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Picture: AAP/MARC McCORMACK PREPARED: Steve Irving in Cairns.