![CLOSED: The Oxley Highway could be closed for months. Photo: Gingers Creek CLOSED: The Oxley Highway could be closed for months. Photo: Gingers Creek](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/afalkenmire/113091e4-d948-42ba-9bc7-93f8acd216db.jpg/r0_0_2048_1536_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
THE HIGHWAY connecting Tamworth with popular beachside getaways will not open these school holidays, after heavy rain caused major damage and landslips.
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The Oxley Highway - which leads to Port Macquarie - remains closed in both directions for about 140km after Walcha.
Member for Mid North Coast Melinda Pavey said work to clear 70 landslips and fix up damage could take "at least two to three months".
Even then, she said only one lane would reopen.
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"The current strategy is to focus on carrying out temporary works to allow the highway to be progressively reopened to single-lane, with alternating flow," Ms Pavey said in a statement on Tuesday.
"This is expected to take at least two to three months, weather permitting, before we can safely allow motorists along this part of the highway."
Transport for NSW has brought in heavy machinery to get repairs going and to clear debris, with trucks helping to haul away trees and rocks.
It could take "several months" for larger slips to be cleared. Ms Pavey said at least five have caused damage below the highway, creating a challenge for crews.
More than one metre of rain fell in the Mount Seaview area on the Oxley Highway during heavy rain last month.
A statement from Ms Pavey said Waterfall Way also remained closed due to more than a dozen landslips, but crews had been working over the long weekend to clear them.
"It is expected the road will be reopened with some single-lane restrictions between Dorrigo and Bellingen by late this week," she said.
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