The Washpool Flood Mitigation - Gwydir Highway

The project raised and rebuilt a section of the Gwydir Highway at Washpool to ensure the road is better able to cope during and after flood events; a welcome improvement to local residents, tourists and freight operators who are often cut off after heavy rainfall.

Work involved replacement of an existing three cell box culvert with a 20 cell culvert structure to reduce the duration of road closures.

The highway has also been raised and widened with the addition of 1.5m wide sealed shoulders as well as upgrading roadside drainage, improving safety for motorists and reducing ongoing maintenance costs.

Work started in October 2020 and the project was impacted by a number of challenges including COVID restrictions, significant rainfall and flooding of the site, and the work crews being diverted to support other flood repair works across the state as well.

The project was completed ahead of schedule in September 2023. This included the culvert construction works delivered by Transport for NSW crews, and the associated road upgrades delivered by Moree Plains Shire Council on behalf of Transport.

September 2023

The project was completed on 10 September 2023.

The side track is to be removed in early 2024.

• August 2023 community update (PDF, 507.57 KB)
  The Washpool Flood Mitigation.
• September 2022 project notification

  Work continues on Washpool Flood Mitigation project.

• May 2022 community update
  The Washpool Flood Mitigation.

14 September 2023
Gwydir Highway flood mitigation project completed