Natural Disaster Recovery and slope work - Kings Highway

The additional tree removal work on the Kings Highway at Clyde Mountain required as a result of ongoing wet weather, is now complete.

Natural Disaster Recovery funded slope remediation work on the Kings Highway at Clyde Mountain is now complete.

Since 2019 there have been multiple Natural Disaster declarations in Eurobodalla Shire for storm, flood and bushfire events. These disasters have highlighted the need for the state road network to be safe and reliable and to ensure that roadside maintenance is adequate.

In early 2021 an arborist report identified approximately 400 high risk trees on the Clyde Mountain Pass section of the Kings Highway. These trees were badly burnt in the 2019/20 bushfires and have become significantly less stable due to the effects of storms and flooding.

Transport for NSW has now removed these trees under full road closure of the Kings Highway at Clyde Mountain. 

An extensive program of improvement work will continue on the Kings Highway including safety treatments and slope stabilisation. Where possible, some of this work will be carried out during the full road closure to minimise future impact.

This will improve safety for motorists by removing roadside hazards, improve safety for workers and improve security of the road network by reducing the likelihood of unplanned closures.

We will continue to keep you informed.

Kings Hwy, Clyde Mt closure, Natural Disaster Recovery work

• What are we doing? - expand
  

  Transport for NSW has removed approximately 400 high risk trees under full road closure of the Kings Highway at Clyde Mountain.

  The closures was in place from Tuesday 31 August 2021 to early December 2021.

• Why are we doing this work? - expand
  

  During the 2019/20 bushfires, trees along the Kings Highway at Clyde Mountain were badly burnt. Those trees became significantly less stable due to the effects of storms and flooding.

  In early 2021 an arborist report assessed and identified approximately 400 high risk trees for removal as they posed a safety risk to road users and workers.

  The work was funded under Natural Disaster Recovery Funding, ensuring adequate roadside maintenance and a more resilient road network.

• When and where will the road be closed? - expand
  

  The Kings Highway was closed from River Forest Road to Misty Mountain Road.

  Full closures were in place three days per week from Tuesday to Thursday between 8am and 3pm from Tuesday 31 August to Thursday 16 September 2023.

  The road was opened over the September school holidays to allow holiday traffic to travel without impact and work will recommence after the October long weekend.

  From Tuesday 5 October the closures were in place with an additional hour from 8am to 4pm Tuesday to Thursday until early-December.

  No work took place on Monday, Friday, weekends, public holidays or school holidays.

• Why has the closure been scheduled for week days, instead of weekends? - expand
  
  The closures was in place Tuesday to Thursday due to lower travel volumes recorded on the Kings Highway on these days. Transport made every effort to carry out this work with as little disruption to motorists, local communities and local businesses as possible, and were aware that business rely on tourist traffic that traditionally travel Mondays, Fridays and weekends. We purposely planned our work schedule around these peak travel times.
• Why has the schedule been revised from four days per week to three? - expand
  

  We understand the impacts extended closures would have on local communities and business that have already gone through many hardships, and we worked with them on ways to minimise disruption while carrying out this critical safety work

  The revised schedule aimed to balance the need to remove the trees as quickly as possible for the safety of road users and minimising extended closures and the impact these might have on the community.

  The revised closure times were determined in consultation with Eurobodalla Shire Council, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, emergency services, the freight industry and business groups.

• Why is it necessary to close the road during the work - expand
  

  To remove the very large damaged trees, arborists needed to cut and drop large sections of the trees to ground level which blocked the travel lanes.

  The trees were up to 25m high and were felled from the up-slopes onto the road which required both lanes to be closed.

  There was no way to complete the work safely and efficiently without a full closure.

• What consultation has been carried out? - expand
  

  Closure times were determined in consultation with Eurobodalla Shire Council, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council and targeted engagement with stakeholders, including emergency services, the freight industry and business groups. Our goal was been to balance disruption for our transport customers and local communities, including local businesses, with the need to safely and efficiently carry out this urgent natural disaster recovery work

• Will access be maintained for emergencies? - expand
  
  Emergency services were briefed on the road closure impacts. Emergency access was assessed by the project team in conjunction with emergency services on a case by case basis.
• How do I access health services during the closures - expand
  
  We encouraged all road users to plan their journey and travel outside of the road closure times where possible. The road was opened with no impacts on Mondays, Friday and weekends from 3pm to 8am Tuesday to Thursday.
• How will freight movements be impacted? - expand
  

  The Kings Highway at Clyde Mountain was closed to all transport customers, including freight. Transport for NSW continued to keep our stakeholders informed of project progress and any changes to the closure schedule. We encourage all road users to plan your journeys and travel outside of the road closure times where possible.

• Will pedestrians and cyclists have access to the area? - expand
  

  There is no pedestrian access on this section of the Kings Highway at any time. Cyclists, like our other transport customers, will have access to the road outside of the closure times.

• How will I know if I’m too late to get through? - expand
  

  It took approximately 15 minutes to reach the hard closure location at Misty Mountain Road from Nelligen and approximately 15 minutes to reach the hard closure location at River Forest Road from Braidwood. To avoid lost time for road users, two soft closure locations were put in place.

  Traffic control was located at Monkittee Street, Braidwood and at Old Bolaro Road, west of Nelligen from 7.40am to advise motorists they will no longer reach the closure point in time to make it through the hard closure.

  Example (west bound to the tablelands)

  If you were traveling from Nelligen to Braidwood and you reach Nelligen at or later than 7.40am, you will be turned around as you will not make it to Misty Mountain Road in time to get through the closure.

  Example (east bound to the coast)

  If you were traveling from Braidwood to Nelligen and you reach Braidwood at or later than 7.40am, you would be turned around as you would not make it to River Forest Road in time to get through the closure.

• Why can’t we complete the work at night? - expand
  
  We explored the possibility of carrying out this work at night, but it was determined that night work presented an unacceptable safety risk to workers. Adequate lighting would be needed to complete the work safely and efficiently. In addition, the steep terrain and tree heights did not allow for this work to be completed safely at night.
• What are the alternate routes? - expand
  

  Alternate routes via the state road network were in place for light and heavy vehicles, with maps available on the project webpage. Motorists were advised to travel outside of closure times or plan their journeys.

  The northern alternate route was via the Hume Highway, Picton Road and the Princes Highway and could add up to 6.5 hours to journeys depending on origin and destination.

  The southern detour is via the Kings Highway, Monaro Highway, Snowy Mountains Highway and the Princes Highway and could add up to 5.5 hours to journeys depending on origin and destination.

  Other local roads are also available as alternate routes.

• Will other work be completed during the closure? - expand
  

  There is a program of maintenance work required for the Kings Highway including slope stabilisation, guardrail and fence replacement, storm water management and asphalt patching.

  Further closures may be required for ongoing work.

• If the road is open, how will I know? - expand
  
  Variable message signs were in place across the road network advising of the closure. If there are changes to the work methodology or if work stops temporarily we will update Live Traffic and signs.
• How can I find further information about this project? - expand
  

  Transport will continue to keep our stakeholders and the community informed throughout the period. If there are changes to the work methodology or work is not carried out, we will update Live Traffic and variable message signs.

  For more information, or to subscribe for email updates, please visit our project website at nswroads.work/clydemountain

  For the latest traffic updates call 132 701, visit livetraffic.com or download the Live Traffic NSW App.

  Follow our Facebook page: NSW Roads

  For more information on the impacts of the Natural Disaster declarations on local roads, please visit the Eurobodalla Shire Council webpage.

  Transport for NSW thanks the community for its patience while this important work is carried out.

• August 2021 project update

  Kings Highway updated closure schedule - Clyde Mountain Natural Disaster Recovery work.

• Northbound detour map
• Southbound detour map

• 16 August 2021

  Revised schedule for Kings Highway closures.

• 30 July 2021
  Full closures of the Kings Highway at Clyde Mountain.