I had an interesting experience today towing my van the 180 or so kilometers between Bedourie to Birdsville. I got to the intersection of the Eyre Developmental Road leading to Birdsville (160 km away) and the Diamantina Developmental Road leading to Windorah (370 km away). The branch to Birdville had a huge sign across the road saying it was "impassable".
There were no detour markings or alternate route notifications and this caused me some angst because I had embarked on my last leg of great outback tracks having covered 10,000 km to do - the iconic 'Birdsville'.
It was confusing because in my research over the previous couple of days, there had been no road notices of the closure of the Eyre from Transport and Main Roads Queensland or that other great repository of road closure information and warning .... the Birdsville Pub!
What was the nature of this 'impossible' road blockage? Flood was my best bet. Perhaps some catastrophic road degradation, or massive upgrade? None of which explained the lack of notice or failure to indicate that a 90 km detour around Lake Machattie would still allow access to Birdsville.
Now I am a curious bugger, so I scooted around the sign to investigate. Remember, a notice of road 'impassability' is not a cut and dried restriction on entering .... it was on my own head and curiosity got the better of me.
A little way down the road, which seemed in fine condition to that point, I met a road crew of about six blokes who were conferencing and in equal measure seemed to greatly resent my unexpected intrusion as much as they were amused at it. Eventually, I got an explanation for the closure of the Eyre Developmental Road .... the grading and minor reconstruction of a 50-meter section.
After a brief discussion as to why I was there and why such minor 'works' rendered the road 'impassable' (curiosity mainly .... because I would have turned back quickly had there been any danger), the foreman realised that I was a persistent pest and relented. I happily and easily drove around the 50-meter section, saving myself a 90 km detour, which I would have gladly done, had signage and explanation been provided and a clear need.
Was I in grievous error, foolhardy or simply an obstinate pest? Certainly the later!
But what would you have done and why wasn't a proper explanation and detour signage provided?
My second question is should hundreds of kilometers of strategic outback road be labeled 'impassable' because someone can't be bothered grading a siding to allow traffic through?
-- Edited by Ballynure on Monday 3rd of June 2019 06:50:26 PM
-- Edited by Ballynure on Monday 3rd of June 2019 06:51:10 PM
Bedourie to Birdsville has been closed since before Easter (although it might have opened briefly mid-April, not sure). You were probably just lucky 1) the repair works are nearing completion; 2) it wasn't the local coppers you encountered; and 3) they didn't just send you packing and increase your travel by far more the 90km. Road closures are road closures. End of.
Hi Dabbler, l accept your point of view but there was nothing illegal in what l did so the reference to coppers is not relevant.
Also road closures without explanation are also not on. Yes l was lucky ... or did they realise that better signage was necessary?
I'm not sure you weren't breaking a law Ballynure. The signage said the road was impassable ie closed. Road condition reports all state the road was closed to all traffic AND you were at an intersection. To most of us it's pretty clear you take the turnoff. Sorry but you won't get acceptance from me because but I'm sure there are plenty of people that choose to ignore signage such as yourself.
Hi Dabbler, l accept your point of view but there was nothing illegal in what l did so the reference to coppers is not relevant. Also road closures without explanation are also not on. Yes l was lucky ... or did they realise that better signage was necessary?
I am with you Jim.Impassable is a matter of interpretation.The road may well have been impassable to lesser vehicles,such as light cars,but impassable does not mean closed.The fact that you were able to travel the road shows that it was not even impassable.Cheers.
-- Edited by yobarr on Monday 10th of June 2019 03:36:20 PM
The term "impassable" is used in some electronic signs that indicate road status in Qld. A road that is indicated as *closed* is described as impassable of the signage has explanatory notes. A road that is indicated as *open* is described as open to high clearance or open to 4x4 only or open to all vehicles. Impassable isn't conditional. None of the roads I saw in Feb were consistently signed, none showed alternate routes or detours and all were signed at the junction/intersection not part way down the track. And sorry Yobarr, my grammar is correct. Your grammar is acceptable too but using "you" can reference either an individual or individuals and that wasn't my intention, and it certainly isn't more correct than my usage.
The term "impassable" is used in some electronic signs that indicate road status in Qld. A road that is indicated as *closed* is described as impassable of the signage has explanatory notes. A road that is indicated as *open* is described as open to high clearance or open to 4x4 only or open to all vehicles. Impassable isn't conditional. None of the roads I saw in Feb were consistently signed, none showed alternate routes or detours and all were signed at the junction/intersection not part way down the track. And sorry Yobarr, my grammar is correct. Your grammar is acceptable too but using "you" can reference either an individual or individuals and that wasn't my intention, and it certainly isn't more correct than my usage.
Hmmm...interesting. None of the roads I saw were closed.....WRONG. Correct grammar is .....none of the roads I saw WAS closed.. None means not one. Alternate...WRONG.The word you seek is ALTERNATIVE.But close,I suppose.And impassable doesnt mean closed.But dont give up,as you seem to have something positive to contribute! Cheers.
-- Edited by yobarr on Monday 10th of June 2019 06:42:15 PM
Yobarr just give it up and stop embarrassing yourself. The noun "roads" is plural and require the plural verb "were". If the word "roads" is omitted and implied within the context of my sentence then same thing applies and a plural verb is still required. Add to that, you have incorrectly defined the pronoun "none" to mean the singular "not one" when in fact it can also mean the plural "not any". Alternate is a perfectly acceptable adjective to describe choice. Your vocabulary is limited apparently but not as bad as your comprehension which is ****. As I already stated in my post above, the word "impassable" is used in some Qld road status signs to clarify the meaning of the status "closed". I typed this last sentence slowly to allow for your reading speed and comprehension skills.
Yobarr just give it up and stop embarrassing yourself. The noun "roads" is plural and require the plural verb "were". If the word "roads" is omitted and implied within the context of my sentence then same thing applies and a plural verb is still required. Add to that, you have incorrectly defined the pronoun "none" to mean the singular "not one" when in fact it can also mean the plural "not any". Alternate is a perfectly acceptable adjective to describe choice. Your vocabulary is limited apparently but not as bad as your comprehension which is ****. As I already stated in my post above, the word "impassable" is used in some Qld road status signs to clarify the meaning of the status "closed". I typed this last sentence slowly to allow for your reading speed and comprehension skills.
You are absolutely incorrect in your usage of the word none (not one,not any....BOTH singular) with the plural noun Roads.But you are right...I should give it up....Ignorance is bliss.Have a great day.Cheers . . . P.S Thanks for showing consideration by typing your last sentence slowly.........I was really struggling until then.
