Main Roads says it is expecting widespread impact to the State’s North West road network once tropical Cyclone Zelia crosses the Pilbara coastline, and has urged road users to carefully plan their travel.

Widespread heavy rain is expected to impact the Great Northern Highway (GNH) and the North West Coastal Highway as well as other major routes and local roads.

Heavy rain has already forced the closures of several routes this morning:

• the Great Northern Highway from Broome to Port Hedland;
• the Rippon Hills Road from the Marble Bar turn-off to Telfer; and,
• North West Coastal Highway between Roebourne and Port Hedland and the Marble Bar Road between GNH (northern end) and Roy Hill mine site was closed at 10am this morning as a safety precaution ahead of expected flooding.

The Main Roads Chief Operating Officer Des Snook said the intensity of the cyclone meant there could be major impacts on the road network.

“Main Roads is prepared with road crews on standby in three regions: the Pilbara, Kimberley and the Mid West-Gascoyne to respond once the immediate cyclone emergency is over,” Mr Snook said.

“The crews will assess and repair any damaged sections of highway as soon as flood waters recede to re-open critical roads as soon as possible."

Road users in the North-West and those planning travel to Geraldton and beyond are urged to plan ahead and defer non-essential travel until after the emergency clears and roads get back to normal.

Mr Snook also warned of the dangers of road users ignoring ‘road closed’ signs.

“A ‘road closed’ sign means exactly that: The road is closed,” Mr Snook said.

“Apart from the obvious danger people place themselves in by trying to navigate a flooded, closed road there is the issue of damaging the road surface,” he said.

“There are penalties for road users ignoring road closures."

“I urge all road users to defer non-essential travel, avoid flood affected areas, obey road closure signs and heed information provided through road condition updates.”

Stay up to date with the latest information via:

• Bureau of Meteorology > Western Australia Warnings Summary
• Emergency WA > emergency.wa.gov.au
• Main Roads Travel Map > https://travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au/Home/Map or ring the Main Roads Customer Information Centre on 138 138.

Main Roads Media Contact: Dean Roberts 0419907230